Thought I'd save myself a bunch of time and trouble by establishing the facts about attempting to swap the engine, transmission with transfer case all mated together, at the same time. I have a new combo of all 3 I want to put in my '86 4x4 and I wanted to make sure it'd all fit. I tried various combinations of searches on google and forums, and it's a tough question to try to search for an answer to. I've seen people build a frame-off and put the engine and transmission in at the same time on the chassis and drop the cab on that. Maybe that would be easier, but I have a gantry hoist in my shop building, and if I could angle the whole works into the engine bay with the hood off and transmission crossmember out, that would be the easiest. Just need word from someone who's done it before. I have done the engine separately, but I'll have a new wngine and low miles transmisoin I'm looking to install at the same time.
Thanks.

 

I removed mine all at one time. It took me about an hour to get it out by myself. I plan on going back the same way.

 

That's about the angle I was expecting to see.

How was the ground clearance, and related what clearance do you have frame to ground (stock tires and lift)?

 

It can be done if you can get enough vertical lift .

Like a bridge crane maybe a Fork Lift

My engine Hoist does not have the vertical lift needed .

I could have cut out the radiator support .

 

Co_94_PU. My truck is stock height with BFG 31's . I did run out of vertical lift in the picture so I let the air out of the front tires.At this point all I needed was around 3 inches to clear Then I lifted by hand the transfer case over the core support.It was not all that heavy. When I go back I will shorten up the chains to where they are closer to the engine so I wont run out of height.. I realized that when it was all up in the air but did not want to let it back down. I was surprised that it all came out fairly easy to be honest. Putting the engine together now. I will be taking more photos and posting this weekend.