Supporting 2000 Duratec 3.0l for trans replacement.

[lesterl]

You saw the title, I am trying to do a transmission replacement (have a 2000 duratec donor car and a 2000 duratec recipient car).

I have run into only one snafu at this time, there are no engine support ears on the top of this DOHC engine, how does one go about supporting this beast while the transmission and cradle get dropped?

Sorry if this has been asked before I did look, I did google, and I have spent several hours pondering this issue, Both engines do work on both cars, the trans on the better one took a dump and blew fluid all over the CAT and wont move. The donor car is rusted/ in need of front end and the rack and pinion died on it.

Any help or opinion would be appreciated, I have 2 ideas I have been toying with, one of which is to thread a bolt or two into some unused holes front and back and use those to hang from, but unused holes seem to be lacking on this engine. Another is to support the engine from under by means of straps from front top to under the pan to rear top somehow...... Thanks.....

[shorod]

The factory service manual for the 2000 model year references a couple of "Engine Lifting Brackets - 303–050 (T70P-6000)" that get attached to the LH and RH cylinder heads.

-Rod

[lesterl]

Thanks Rod, kinda figured they had something like that, I rigged up a couple bolts with which to hold it in place and built a support to hold it up, thanks, will post back with my results.....