[DanEC]

Lippy - Someone within the last few weeks said they installed their engine and transmission together into their ERA. I will see if I can find the thread. I installed my engine with the clutch in place and then installed the bellhousing after the engine was in. Apparently if the entire engine/trans can go in together, putting the bellhousing on before the install should not cause a problem.

Definately get a 2-ton hoist. I used an engine tilter - it's not essential but is nice to have. It kind of depends how you are going to hoist the engine - if using a intake plate then you can pivot the engine up or down pretty easily - and I don't think a tilter is of any help. If using chains at the front and rear of the engine (as I did due to the dual quad intake) then the tilter is a lot more helpful.

If you decide not to try and install the transmission with the engine - I would recomend getting a couple 5 or 6 inch bolts of the size that secure the transmission to the bellhousing, cut the head off of them and round the ends to make some dowels for supporting the weight of the transmission as it's guided into the clutch disc and the pilot bushing. You can swing the transmission down and hang on the dowels and then just slide it in without having to support it's weight.