318 engine install?

The engine was out of the van when I recd it. I'm getting close to putting in the rebuilt 318 and 727 trans. Acouple of questions:
1. Do I install the front of the dog box with radiator support first, or install it after the engine is in.
2. Does the engine install thru the bottom of the engine compartment? It looks like it would go in that way with trans attached. I have the room and capability of getting the van high enough.

Any other suggestions?

you could do either. if the engine goes in from the top its easier with the front section out of the way. by the book the engine does come out from the bottom with the trans still attached.

i had the front of the dog house in and went through the side doors with out the trans then put the trans in from the underside

Thanks for the comments on the opening of this post. Installed the engine and trans yesterday afternoon single handed. Used an MC jack and floor jack. Jacked up the front end and used 6X6's along with the jack stands to get the height. Slid the engine and trans underneath the side of the van then lowered the van over the engine (front wheels off). Took abit of jockying but it bolted up with out a hitch. About three hours give or take.

badnadger when you did this, did you have to take the axle off?

When I changed my motor out we took it thru the side doors ..... Yes leave the doghouse completely out for all of the room you can get. Here are pictures of my shade tree motor removal.

well on my new no door i dont get the privilege of having 4 extra doors to work with lol

Yeah it is rather airy.....

My dad made a upside down square "u" with horizontal feet that sat in between the front wheel wells. He attached a manual winch to it to pull the engine up to disconnect the mounts and lowered the engine and transmission on to a heavy metal pan with rollers and rolled it out from underneath. He left the radiator in place, but removed the rest of the dog house. This was down 17 years ago so I don't remember the details.