My Barracuda used to be my 4-seasons DD.
Every September long weekend, I'd pull the 367, and drop in a stock 318 for the winter. Come May long weekend, I'd swap the 367 back in. Sometimes the A833 trans came out with the engine/sometimes not, and many times I'd run an automatic in the winter. I did this routine for at least 5 winters, until I started making enough money to buy a nice winter beater.
The headers always stayed in the car.
I just used Tarp-straps over blankets to keep them from getting tangled up. BTW, this is also why my underhood is painted black, for easy paint touch-ups.
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One time;
I built a nice supportworks, and dropped the engine/trans down thru the bottom. That worked real good. But it didn't save me any time. Down went great. Up not so much.
Never did it again.
If I have to do it on the floor, I take the trans down first.
But mostly, I used a 4-post hoist.
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Here's a tip for taking the hood off. It's the method I use.
1) open the hood, install a cut-to-fit wooden 2x2 strut to hold the hood up., taking the weight off the hinges.
2) Assuming the hood is lined up in the first place; mark the position of the hood hinges. I drilled 1/8th holes thru the hinges into the hood pads, for ease of line-up later.
3) loosen the 4 bolts and slide the hood down. remove the 2 rear-most bolts. You may have to install blanket-bumpers at the pointy corners, to keep them off the body.
4) Blanket the core support, remove the wooden strut, lower the hood onto the blanket.
5) Clean the roof of the car, and cover it with a blanket, then remove the remaining 2 bolts.
6) get a helper
7) lift up the hood, carry it away from the car, flip it upside down, then carry it back and lay it on the roof.
Badaboom!
8) yes, 20 years ago I didn't need a helper. But I also didn't worship my car and was not afraid to scratch it, which never happened anyway. At 71 now, I wouldn't try it.
9) wheel in the cherry-picker and hang the load leveler.
EDIT, from Post 13
I have a Milodon 8qt Roadrace pan; 30940, with the Side bump-outs. and Yes, I notched my K-member for ease of removal. this only took a couple of modest cuts.
