Hi all, I wanted to get opinions on whats the prefered way to mate the engine to subframe. without dinging the firewall or frame..

1- install bare subframe to body and then install engine and trans, and bolt in x-member after it's in.

2- install engine into subframe, and lift as a unit to the body, with the x-member pre-installed

either way is acceptable. but, you will want the crossmember in place before mounting the sub to car as it is hard to install after the sub is bolted up and you may ding up some fresh paint trying to force it into place, or you will have to loosen your sub to slide the crossmember in.

Aligning the subframe (I'm sure your familiar with the alignment holes) will be much easier without the heavy engine on the SF.

Gee, the way the factory did it is losing the poll!

I did it the first way.

Just seemed easier at the time. I'll probably take it all apart again in the spring so maybe I'll try the other way then.

Paul

I guess it depends on how apart (or together) the car is when you're doing it.
I'll be fitting my subframe to the car soon and it will be a heap easier doing it with the engine in place as opposed to afterwards..
I have done it both ways over the years and the second is much easier in my opinion.. Mainly because I work alone.