trouble remounting engine

[elanplus2s130]

I pulled the twim cam engine out of my 1970 Elan Plus 2 - left transmision
mounted to the car so just unbolted engine from engine mounts and bell housing.
Now, I am unable to get the engine back in. Wondering if there is some trick or if I just need a helper. (Note: the engine is seized.)

Something seems to be not aligning properly as I drop the engine in and try to
remate it to the bell housing. I removed the clutch plate and that didn't help
(car is still in process of restoration but I need to remount engine to
transport it).

I did jack the transmission up a little to see if that would help with alignment
but no luck. Anyone had a similar problem?

Thanks

[Jason1]

Hi

Not sure what you mean? Is it that the gearbox shaft will not go into the spigot bearing?

If so try rotating the front crank pulley as you push the engine back into the gearbox.

Jason

[Kerryt333]

I found that the gearbox needs to be jacked up until the top of the bellhousing is within approx. 10mm from the bodyshell which then creates an angle for the engine to clear the chassis crossmember.The engine needs to be slung so that the flywheel end is 100 -125mm lower than the waterpump end.
If you don't need the clutch on the engine this should make it easier to line up because there would'nt be any splines to line up.Put plenty of grease on the end of the gearbox shaft to ease it into the spigot bearing.It is definitely easier with a helping hand but is acheivable on your own.
Get the engine down close to the bellhousing & clear of the chassis & then get in the engine bay ,standing on the chassis crossmember ,& wiggle the engine from side to side &up and down if necessary whilst the weight is still taken by the hoist,make slight adjustments up or down on the hoist and keep trying until it clicks.
I don't think there is any real science to it ,every engine replacement has different factors.
Good luck
Kerryt333

[rgh0]

When you removed the clutch did you realign the clutch plate splne with the spigot bearing ? I so its just a matter of getting the engine and GB lined up and then pushing them together, if not you need to pull out and get an alignment tool to use when you reassemble the clutch plate and pressure plate.

As the engine and GB come together you have to get the GB input splines into the clutch plate once this is done you will normally encounter further resistance when they are around 20 mm apart and the nose of the input shaft has to go into the spigot bearing. Check the clearance between the engine and GB is the same side to side and top to bottom to confirm you have the aligned then wiggle and push on the engine until it slides home.

cheers
Rohan