Engine removal questions.

Going to pull my 273 out of my A100 pickup soon. Going to drop the automatic first. If I put some blocks of wood between the rear of the heads & the rear section of the engine box. Would this be OK ( to prevent the engine from tipping backwards) when the trans is removed? Also due to my garage room, I'am planning to pull the engine out the drivers side door. (first pulling the steering wheel).
Any helpful hints anyone would like to pass on to me feel free....Please tell me if there's a better way to do this. Thanks

Seems you are trying the hard way!

Easiest way is thru the passenger side, period!
The wheel and column are going to fight you.
Another possible way is to drop them both together down to the floor.
Connect the hoist to the back of the engine and pull the mounts.
Lower the engine and trans as a unit to the floor.
The only problem then is how to lift the van high enough to get them out.
I did this on a parts PU, and it was simple, but you need something that can support them and roll, and have the body high enough to slide them out. I had the front of the PU up on a trailer, the rear was up on tall stands.

I would not expect the doghouse to support the engine. Too many valuable parts (dist. ballast, solenoid) and just a sheetmetal panel that you will probably not have side support for once you strip down the engine for removal (pull the side panels for access.)
Either use the hoist from the top or use a jack and a 2x4 to hold up the back of the engine if you must remove the trans first.

I usually pull the engine first, supporting the trans with a floor jack, then drop the trans.

i just pulled my engine from the side cargo doors, after dropping the trany first, and used a jack stand with a small 2x4 under the back of the oil pan to hold up the back of the engine till i pulled it out, i have the van jacked up just enough to slid the trany out from under the van with 4 jack stands under the frame not axles other wise the van would go higher into the rafters when the trany and engine weight was off the van,

i just seen were you want to support the engine with wood on the engine cover, that would never hold, you need to remove the engine cover lid, both sides, and the rear section as well to give you room to work, removeing exhaust and everything else,

Passenger side door and as a unit.

[quo
te="67Dodger"]Passenger side door and as a unit.[/quote] How hard was this to do ? is there ample room as a unit ? since going out the drivers door is not good. I don't have anyway to drop out the bottom.

[quote="dodge man"]i just seen were you want to support the engine with wood on the engine cover, that would never hold,  you need to remove the engine cover lid, both sides, and the rear section as well to give you room to work, removeing exhaust and everything else,[
/quote]
I have removed the side covers and lid, and radiator/ cover. My P/U has no cargo doors. But sure would come in handy now.

Passenger door, with tranny dropped separately.  

rustytoolss wrote:[quo
te="67Dodger"]Passenger side door and as a unit.

How hard was this to do ?  is there ample room as a unit ? since  going out the drivers door is not good. I don't have anyway to drop out the bottom.[/quote]
Easy as pie. No interference whatsoever.

67Dodger wrote:

rustytoolss wrote:[quo
te="67Dodger"]Passenger side door and as a unit.

How hard was this to do ?  is there ample room as a unit ? since  going out the drivers door is not good. I don't have anyway to drop out the bottom.

Easy as pie. No interference whatsoever.[/quote]Sounds like a plan, might be easier in the long run.