I am going to be removing the engine and trans (350/350)from a 74 Nova by myself today.
The front fenders,radiator support and grille are all still on the car.

What would be the easiest way for me to remove the engine and trans?

I am planning on removing the bellhousing bolts and then removing the trans first and then pulling the engine as I do not think I could pull the engine and trans out together because the radiator support and grille are still on the car.

Any suggestions?

I've always pulled the motor / trans together on my Camaros - have to tilt the motor back as it comes out and the car has to be up on jack stands to have room for the tail shaft to swing down out of the way - but it works well for me - would guess it would be the same in a Nova.

Did you have the fenders,radiator support and grill removed?

As suggested, one can pull the eng/trans assembly together with the front end on the car, just takes time and thinking ahead of what action might happen, blankets over the front fenders and grille come to mind to protect from scratches.

You can remove both items separately, I would do engine first, then unbolt trans from crossmember and pull out trans.

Be prepared for an oil slick. As soon as trans tilts up, oil drips out the tailhousing.

Be careful, think before executing.

How many bolts are there on the bellhousing that attach the trans to the block?

I have pulled the motor/tranny unit together a few times by myself. The thing you will need that makes this alot simpler is an engine leveler. You can do it with rad support in. http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/80048/10002/-1 I bought one at my local car quest.
This will allow you to tilt your motor/tranny unit as it comes out, limiting the banging that happens. I also jack my car up about 15". If you do it together get a "tranny plug" that goes over the end to prevent the fluid from leaking out and alot of kitty litter to soak up all of the fluid that you thought was already out.

Pull the distributor will also make this easier. If you are going to rebuild the motor the distributor position is not important. I you are not going to rebuild the motor make sure you not the position of the rotor when you pull it so it is placed back correctly.

Rick

It sounds like and looks like pulling the engine and trans together will be more of a pain and risky for one person to do...given the small amount of space in that 74 Nova engine compartment.
I would seem safer for me to remove the trans first and then the engine. I think I will go that direction.

Thanks guys!

together

Did you have the fenders,radiator support and grill removed?nope, all that was in place - radiator out, fan off, lower pulley off and it came out fine. As mentioned, an engine leveler is the cats meow doing this to control the engine and the car has to be up in the air some. Like I said, my experience is with a 69 camaro - not a Nova.

take off the hood, remove the radiator, unbolt the engine and trans mounts, remove the carb, bolt a lift plate to where the carb just came from, pull motor and trans as a unit.
it is honetly a lot less screwing around to pull them as a unit than it is to fight the bellhousing and torque converter bolts and fund a way to support the trans when you pull the motor.

take off the hood, remove the radiator, unbolt the engine and trans mounts, remove the carb, bolt a lift plate to where the carb just came from, pull motor and trans as a unit.
it is honetly a lot less screwing around to pull them as a unit than it is to fight the bellhousing and torque converter bolts and fund a way to support the trans when you pull the motor.

I have all that stuff done except for unbolting the trans cross member and linkage.

I will reconsider taking the engine and trans out as a unit as maybe it will give me less headache than pulling the trans first and having to deal with the bellhousing bolts and sliding the trans out of the torque converter all the while supporting the trans while backing it off.

Do it with the engine and trans together.You need to take the trans crossmember out and put a floor jack under the trans.You can aviod a trans fluid slick by putting a driveshaft yoke into the tail of the trans before removing it.I have seen some guys make due using a spray paint can cap and a lot of electrical tape wrapped real tight,but a spare junkyard yoke or the one off your driveshaft is the way to go.I do them with the radiator out,the fan off and everything else on.You should remove the starter and oil filter before pulling the engine no matter how you do it.Good luck.

BTW,just remember that with a yoke in the trans,you have to be carefull that the yoke doesnt get snagged on something under the car and end up falling out.Use a little duct tape to keep it on or just keep an eye on it as you work.

If it's an auto and the trans doesn't really need to come out, I leave it. The top two trans bolts are easy with a ratchet wrench with the hood off.

Parts you leave untouched.

Drive shaft (no leaks)
Cross member
Speedo cable
Trans cooler lines
Shifter cable and or linkage
Temp gauge wire (in my case)
O.D. wiring (in my case)

The engine will come up and out with very little forward motion needed. I have a used a piece of plywood in front of the radiator to avoid pulling it and disconnecting the trans lines (fan off of course).

I also have a 2x8 (I believe it is) cut just right that bolts to the big round holes on each side of the sub frame to support the trans. You can move the car any time after the engine it out without messing with a jack or whatever for the trans.

Just my way, which ever works best for you is good.

EDIT After posting I realize the trans is coming out anyway. I'll leave what I typed for someone else perhaps.

to add to what has been said by myself and others- unbolt the torque converter from the flexplate and slide it all the way back into the trans when you are under the car unhooking the trans and what not. this makes it easier to separate the trans from the motor after the engine is out- it isn't fun fighting with tight torque converter bolts when the engine is dangling on a cherry picker..
just one of the many little time/aggravation saving tricks i've picked up over 20 years of tearing cars apart and attempting to put them back together. after a few engine remove/install procedures, you start to learn what tools you will need and what order to take things apart. i can get most small block Chevies out of any car or truck in a couple of hours all by myself- and that is starting with a complete and fully functional vehicle that i drive into the garage.

If you are going to do work on the transmission, pull them together. If the transmission is good to go, you can pull the motor as noted after putting a 4x4 cut to fit between the fenders with a chain attached to the transmission to hold it up as the motor comes out.

Charlie
69 Camaro RS