i have some procedural questions regarding installing an engine into my truck. i have a 383 shortblock i need to get off the floor of the garage. my problem is that i have a new torque converter to put in it and the tranny is also laying on the floor completely empty. so heres the questions. how exactly do i go about putting this puppy in correctly? do i have to pour some tranny fluid into the torque converter before i install it or leave it dry? just any little things i have to "prime" i would like to know about... if it helps any, the motor will not be started for some time after i install it, since i haven't yet bought heads, intake, carb, or even an oil pan for it yet.

1st of all I would not put a motor in without the heads and pan. Way too much back pain for the heads and the pan may be a neck ache from the tie rods to the cross member. Same goes for the intake. Really need to seal that motor up if it's going to be sitting around for a while.

The T/C need about 2 qts of tranny fluid (I think & I hope someone will correct this if I'm wrong). The T/C needs to be installed on the tranny before mating to the motor. Big thing is to make sure the T/C is all the way into the tranny on the input spline. If it's not you'll find out real quick when you try to bolt the tranny up and there's about a half inch clearance between the block and tranny and the T/C is tight against the flex plate.

Agree on assembling the whole works before installing it. Good point on the torque converter, usually a hard earned lesson from experience only. I had that happen once, drove me crazy until someone pointed out to me that the torque converter has to be rotated to catch the tranny front pump drive. Clunk! Falls into place with a little know how.

I would bag up the short block and wait until I had everything for it. I used to use black Hefty bags. I'd oil up everything exposed with Marvel Mystery Oil, drop the bag over the engine, flip it over, tie up the bag and rest it on the back of the engine on a couple of pieces of wood to keep it off the floor.

Bob

i agree with info but as far as oil or not leave it dry until its installed