Hello, I'm going to be removing the engine from my 1973ES to replace the oil pan gasket and rear main seal. Is it easier to disconnect the tranny from the engine then remove them separately or should I remove then as one piece. I plan on bolting the tranny to the engine before reinstalling as I think that installing them as one unit will be easier.

Keep them together on removal. The shift lever gets removed. Leave yourself enough room both above the car (hoist will be raised high) and below (to leave room for the E&T to be angled downward). Good luck and have fun. Dave

I have never spent any time on an 1800. However, if my plan was to reinstall the engine and the transmission as a unit I would probably choose to remove them as a unit as well.
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Any twenty minute job is just a broken bolt away from a three day ordeal

It's not easy to pull or install the engine and transmission together especially with the backwards opening hood and you will need a tilting device on the engine hoist.

If you don't need to pull the transmission, just pull the engine. With the radiator, fan blade and pulley removed, the engine R&I is pretty basic.

When we want to pull both, we pull the transmission, then the bellhousing and then the clutch and flywheel and then pull the engine. Install in the reverse order.
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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502
hiperformanceautoservice.com or oldvolvosonly.com

I've pulled both the engine and tranny (still connected) a couple of times. I'm retired so no biggie it's my way killing some time. This time I was wondering if just pulling the engine might be a better idea. The hood has already been removed and everything disconnected or removed from the engine. I have access to a spline so recoupling the engine and tranny shouldn't be a big deal (I hope). I think that I'll give it a try (just pulling the engine, no tranny). If need be I can always remove the tranny later with the help of a transmission jack.

I'm a DIY guy and have removed and reinstalled them together. I found the pair had to go in almost vertically to work, and had to be careful with the the rate that I leveled the unit as it was lowered. I made sure to have a nice sliding surface where the overdrive contacted the floor. You're probably best off removing the speedometer elbow off the overdrive to avoid damage. One other consideration, you need to watch the head coming in contact with the heater box. I suggest removing the heater box or the head to avoid that problem.

Of course listening to Eric is likely your best route.