i have a 420a that i am pulling out to rebuild and a buddy of mine told me to pull it with the auto trans still attached but i feel like it would be less of a headache to just unbolt the trans and pull the motor by itself. can anybody tell me which way is easier in getting the engine out

Pulling the trans requires removing axles and fluid lines, etc. So your call. Pulling the engine by itself is a little tight but by no means impossible. Less work in the long run.

thank you, i just wanted another opinion about it before i start unbolting stuff. im probly just gona pull the motor by itself, i just hope putting the new one in isnt a complete pain in the ass.

I only remove the transmission as well if I have to.
If I just need to pull the motor, then I just pull the motor.

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If you have replace the factory modular clutch (which stays in the transmission bellhousing) to a non-modular setup (which bolts to the flywheel and stays attached to the motor), you have to pull the transmission with the motor.

Your saying if you are running a non modular clutch you must pull the tranny with the motor? I have pulled my motor out by itself plenty of times while running a non mod clutch. Its tight but you can squeeze it by

On mine you couldn't.

Crank snout would need to be about half inch shorter.

yea im in the middle of pulling it now and the end of the crank is getting in the way, its an automatic trans so i unbolted the flexplate from the torque converter and it seems like i can almost get it out but the crank pulley on the other end of the engine is hitting the inside of the wheel wall. how did you get yours out? i feel like if i unbolt the front and back trans mounts i can jack the trans up a little to get the wiggle room, im trying to avoid taking the trans out since iv already got the engine unbolted and hanging there

I did mine with the trans in the car still but you gotta pull the crank pully off

You can pull the engine out only on an automatic. Unbolt the flexplate from the torque converter...and as stated above...You MUST remove the crank pulley to pull the engine out.

yeah it came out pretty easy after i took off the pulley. is there any problems im gona run into when putting the engine back in?

Just follow the steps in reverse order pretty much. Only thing I can really think of is remembering that when you bolt the flex plate back on they go in a specific pattern. Basically you can get one bolt started. Rotate it around and make sure the other holes line up as well and proceed. Reading all this probably makes it seem note confusing than it really is.