So I trying to think of the smartest way to get my CA18DET and Stumpy 5 Speed connected up.

First time I did it by dropping the engine onto the crossmember and just strongarming the gearbox in place from underneath the car - not to difficult but then getting all the bellhousing bolts on doesn't seem possible. So want to explore the options and see what has been sucessful for others.

Option 1: Connect gearbox to motor and try and install all in one go. [Problems: Difficult to fit through engine bay, might not be albe to lift car up high enough]

Option 2: Drop crossmember and suspend engine in bay and bolt up gearbox from underneath car. [Steering arm, sway bar will stop me dropping the engine much lower. Might be hard to lift gearbox onto motor]

Option 3: Engine onto crossmember, strongarm box into place, do up a couple of gearbox bolts then drop crossmember to get clearance for other gearbox bolts. [Still concerned I might not be able to drop it low enough]

So what have other CA guys found to be the easiest way to fit engine and box?

hay mildman i put the motor in by its slef then put a jack under the x member droped it to as low as the jack goes bollted the box up the jacked it up and its in its a 2 person job makes it easer anway hope this hellps you out

I would suggest jacking the back of the car up as high as possible then putting the engine and box in together. But then I've never tried it maybe the CA is too tall.

The Best way to install engine to gearbox is First install engine (take engine mounts off so engine sits low) still have the engine hanging with chains and engine lift. Have gearbox sitting on trolley jack lift the gearbox up and angle engine down till she connects most times the input will slip into possition sometimes not ok once you are this far start as many gearbox bolts as you can I have a special long flexi drive to get the starter motor ones from underneath. The rest you should be able to get from the top. Once all the bolts are tight lift the engine up and fit engine mounts (the complete mount off the side of block)
For best results undo the sway bar from where its fixed to body (2 bolts each side) also drop the idler arm bush so the sump wont foul.
Good luck It can work easy sometimes and a real prick other times i have had the CA in and out of mine more times than I can count. I find if it starts turning to #### and things dont go rigth I leave it for an hour or two go have a few beers and relax when you get back into it all goes well
Ahh and just remember no matter how much skin, blood or tears you loose it will all be worth it once you drive it
Cheers Andrew

Do you leave the crossmember in the car whilst you put the engine in?

Just move the two engine mounting brackets of the block. Is that what you meant?

Sounds like the way to go. I tried fitting it with engine first, then gearbox....just couldn't fit half the gearbox bolts.

Sounds like your method Andrew might be able to solve that.

I was thinking of taking the engine mounts of the crossmember, hadn't yet got to think of taking the engine brackets of the block.

Yes leave the crossmember in but remove the engine mounts from both the crossmeber and engine block that way its easier to sit the engine low and as far forward as possible.Its the only way to get all the bolts together will sitting in the engine bay. Sit the engine on crossmember with a little weight on engine crane to keep it at the rigth angle.
Good luck Andrew

Cool thanks Andrew, I'll be having a crack at that tomorrow!

i found it eazy too cut the radatior suport bar and swing the motor and gear box in then weld the rad suport