dont look at the cam dowl because that could be either 3 o clock or 9 o clock depending on if your on the compression stroke or not. Just make sure the #1 piston is at tdc and put the little timing mark on the hub adapter (small little pointer in between the mounting holes) straight up.

 

keep in mind that when you go out the bottom that you have to unhook the brake lines, then you may have to bleed the brakes. I think that it is just as easy out the top or the bottom. But i wouldn't put it back in through the bottom. It is very easy to put the engine in through the top. Lay the headers in the engine bay and then drop the engine in.

And if it weren't for stupid hooker headers being such a pain in the *** i would have taken the engine out from the top. But then again im pretty good a getting the bell housing bolts off. (done it way to many times).

 

Possible To Put The Motor Back In With The Six Speed All Bolted Up?????

 

There was a post I ran across searching on here that contained a link with step by step instructions with pictures for removal from the bottom. It was very informative. I have not pulled mine for the rebuild yet but plan to do it from bottom as I need to have my tranny rebuilt as well. Figure I may as well pull it all out at the same time. If you do a search, you'll find that link.

 

The GM mechanics told me it didnt matter how you installed the balancer, even after I told them it had a mark on it. I'm not even sure how mine is installed, the motor has been internally balanced, should that make any difference?