Preparing the coyote for installation

We’ve been working on the wiring in the engine bay. Our goal is installing the Coyote engine. First, we completed several prep steps early. These steps make the swap much smoother.

The engine sat for several months without oil. So I pulled all 8 spark plugs. Next, I sprayed Sta-Bil Fogging Oil into each cylinder. This oil protects stored engines well. Plus, it coats the internals effectively.

While the plugs were out, I checked the gaps. They should be .049 to .053. Luckily, all of mine measured exactly .049. Perfect!

Next, we removed the steering shaft. The wide Coyote engine can hit it. Fortunately, the job is easy. Just loosen the three jam nuts and set screws. Give it a wiggle. Then it slides right out.I’ve had the coyote lift brackets mounted on the engine for a while now.

However, we almost forgot one key item: the oil drain plug. That 1/2″ bolt head can catch on the frame mount! After that, we tested the hoist. Unfortunately, the pallet was too big. So we shaved the pallet down to fit.

We positioned the hoist on the pallet and moved it as close to the engine as possible without hitting the mount. It worked perfectly! Now we can easily roll the hoist over the engine. Afterward, we safely back it out. This keeps the pallet fully intact.

Safety and Prep

For the final step, we removed the radiator. Then we placed pool noodle foam around the engine bay rails. This protects the paint and frame. It helps while we lower the 600+ lb engine. Finally, we wiggle it into position.

Smaller pool noodles work best. However, we used thicker ones instead. They were a bit too big. They squish some, but they made the clearance tighter than expected.

It’s SO close I can taste it!