engine in/out procedure

[cski]

This isn't a critical question, just curious. Is it normal practice to remove the intermediate (central) tie rod before removing the engine/tranny?

The manual I'm using doesn't make any mention of it, but I couldn't see any possible way to get past it with the transmission attached. I didn't have a pickle fork or alternative tool, so disconnected the trans and left it behind. Put it back in the same way, but laid some bad scratches through the firewall paint in two places (from the little bolts on the back of the valve covers), and I don't want to make a habit of that.

[johndemar]

This isn't a critical question, just curious. Is it normal practice to remove the intermediate (central) tie rod before removing the engine/tranny?

I just did this last weekend. If you remove the engine and transmission together, the center link should be removed. I wouldn't use a pickle fork to do it unless you are going to replace the center link. Also found that by removing the whole shifter by taking off the one nut holding it through the bottom makes things easier. The whole thing came out a lot easier than I expected.

I'm sure those with more experience than me will chime in.

[TulsaSpider]

Yea I pulled the motor/trans out of my parts car a while back and that was an unexpected issue for me as well.

[kmac33]

You do not have to remove the center link, but will have to "tilt" the engine and transmission at a pretty good angle to clear it. During my restoration, my engine and transmission were removed with the center link in place, re-installed with it in place and unfortuanately, removed and reinstalled yet again (don't ask why ) all with the center link in place. Once you get the angle technique down, it is actually a pretty quick and easy job.