Is it possible to load the engine (Ford) and tranny together into the Miata bay?
 

I will be loading my engine (347) and tranny (T5) into my 1995 Miata early in the new year. Most of the web sites I have been visiting over the last few months show people loading the engine separate from the tranny.
I wondering if there is any fitment problems that would prevent one from loading the tranny and engine in together? I have a load leveler for my engine hoist if this would make any difference. Has anybody tried to load both engine and tranny together and were there any fitment issues encountered doing so?

It can be done from the bottom. I prefer to do them separate. I want to be sure that the transmission can come out by itself from the bottom in case a clutch replacement will be needed later on.

Ive done it that way. My car was on a lift. I put a jack under the car so the trans would ride on it when angling it in. I think jack stands in the front would work if your cherry picker goes high enough.

Mrduster, yes you can. I've done it once and will a second time this weekend if all goes as planned. There is a process if using only floor jacks and a portacrain. First of all place blocks under the front tires to raise the car a bit. Reason for this is you're going to raise the rear with a floor jack to the max height possible and the portacrain has to be able to roll under the frontend while rolling the engine/transmission into position.

Once you've started finessing the engine/transmission into position with the rear as high as possible, you'll slowly lower the rear of the car (this maintains the necessary angle of the car to the transmission as it enters the tranny tunnel) while rolling the portacrain forward until the rear is down enough you can place the car on jack stands and complete the installation.

It all sounds a bit strained and it is, but for me it's worth the trouble.

Good luck, RR

I always drop the engine with the flywheel mounted from the top and then add the clutch, bell and trans from the bottom. None of those three components are heavy and there is plenty of room to get to all the bolts.

I did my first with the assembled and lift from the bottom method. I didn't like having to fool with the steering shaft with the engine in place. I think its much easier to hook the shaft up through the header while the engine is out and then drop the engine in.

-Jason

That is how I did mine. I wanted to be sure that I could get the bellhousing bolts out in case I ever had to swap a clutch. I had to massage a few areas if I recall correctly.

I recruited little bro's to help with the install today. Per the time stamps on the photos we started lowering in at 10:20 and had it set in place at 11:17 with all motor mounts bolted up. Installing with the bell housing/transmission bolted in place takes a bit longer, however it sure is easy to hook every thing up on the workbench, then roll the portacrain into position, lower in, and take a break. Also I had a leveling bar this goaround and didn't need to lower the rear of the car as mentioned earlier. If anyone uses this method, I highly recommend a leveling bar.

While not absolutely necessary to have a helper or two, it sure is nice to have an extra set of hands and eyes. The wife helped with removing, but made it known in no uncertain terms she wasn't on the install crew. I was lucky to have help as I've done this by myself on the Miata and who knows how many other cars in the past and it's a pain by yourself.

Strong work. Seems like a big task but its quite easy when theres a game plan and help. Looks good!

Nice work, I really didn't think it could be done that way. Kudos!

-Jason