Do I need to completely drop the transmission if I am swapping my motor, and if so is it recommended that I buy new axle seals?

Thanks!

 

I always take my transmission off first before I pull the engine, you can do it a few different ways. For me I did not have the clearance required to lift the engine high enough if the transmission was attached to the engine, so that is why I took mine off before hand. You could always drop the engine down though the bottom then just raise the car high enough to pull the engine out the front of the car.....it's up to you, you can do it a bunch of different ways. As for axle seals if they are not leaking I would not replace them, last time I replaced mine (just because the tranny was out not because of a leak) the new seal I put in leaked

 

Okay thanks cardana, I figured this section was a better section than all-motor. My axles are only 6 months old (shop did them, probably did the seals too). I was planning on taking the hood off and pulling out the top with the hoist, I have clearance (tall garage ceiling), not sure how much work I save doing it that way. What did you hook your chain and levelers to, the exhaust studs?

 

I did not use a leveler. I just used a chain. I still had the exhaust manifolds bolted on so I hooked the chain to them, then just lifted the engine out. Again, there are lots of ways to do this, this is just what I did.