OK, here is the issue,
I am getting ready to put the motor back in the car, the car is just on dollies at the moment, without the steering column, brake and clutch pedals, emergency pedals, seats etc the car is facing into the garage with the engine bay at the back.
it's a one car garage , so there isn't really enough room to get the engine down the side, so I will need to move the car down and out of the garage, get the motor dropped off and moved to the front, then get the car back in so I can put the motor in, then the tranny , etc etc
I thought about getting a tow dolly and place the rear on that and pull the car out and try to back it in afterwards, but what if the front wheels move ? is there a way to either lock them in place? or steer them without the column in and without using a big vice grip as a tiller?

should I just get a flat bed tow service to winch the car out and up and then have him drop it back off?

I have a fairly steep angled driveway, and I generally work by myself, I can push the car back by myself on the dollies but once it hits the drive I envision whoosh down into the street and into the neighbors car lol.

The reason I am a little impatient to get the motor in as quickly as possible is I just sent the motor to be rechecked and restarted on the engine stand, it was built over 7 ( cant believe that) years ago, he pulled the top and relubed the cam etc etc etc and fired it up, I want to be able to start her up a couple of times a month to keep the internals lubed. plus put a fire under my azz, to get her done.

any thoughts?

 

Yea, buy a case of beer and get some friends over to help you. Flip the car around and get the motor and trans in in one shot.

On a serious note: Do you have any room to spin the car in the driveway? If not you might be better off with your idea of getting a flatbed. It could be a case of to many "Chiefs not enough Indians". If it's that tight and/or steep in the driveway you may wind up with more damage and unneeded stress. You could hit Uhaul for a trailer, it's about $60 for same day return, but you would have to wench it up onto it, twice. I figure a tow company would charge you about $100-$150, if they even show, and be done in an hour. So it's one of those time vs. money type of things.

 

Steering and no damage are the vital things. The flat bed sounds like the safest and fastest.
.....Just my two cents worth

 

Why don't you just reinstall the steering wheel and connect to the gear box so you can maneuver the car out of the garage and turn it around? I just moved my project across town from a storage space to my garage using a H-Haul tow dolly. Similar conditions as your car: no steering wheel, no brake pedal, no parking brake, etc. I did have all the steering hardware installed (tie rods, drag link, idler arm, etc.) which you may not. It only took me a few minutes to reinstall the steering wheel and made moving the car much easier and safer.
Rodney

 

Rod, yes all is installed except the wheel, and column its all there I might do that , or just bite the bullet as ralph and Zeke mentioned it may be the safest way, pretty sure I can get a guy with a flatbed in town, after the sheet load I just spent whata a couple a dead presidents LOL...

 

If your not turning the car around you can attach a come-along to it and crank it back in. You can lock the steering by clamping something solid between the pitman arm and a non moving part of the car.

 

Eddie, you'll need the steering wheel and column installed either way. You need to get the car back in the garage backwards which means getting on the opposite end with tow dolly or flatbed and reloading. The flatbed driver can control the "roll off" and you control the steering. I own a tow dolly. Backing up a steep hill with a car and tow dolly will take some time and it won't be easy. You'll still need another person to guide and steer to get the rear of the car into the garage. The last thing you want is more body work to do or a garage repair. Explain to the flatbed driver what you want to do and he may work you in for a "dead president" and be done in a half hour or so. If you have a $100 bill in hand......... Its your choice.

 

Do you have a buddy with a trailer that has a winch?

Load it, bring the car to a level area, unload it, reload it the opposite way, put it back in your garage. (or, like you said, hire a roll-back or tow truck to do the same thing)

 

Mike, usually it's once you get a trailer you get lots of friends, not the other way around.

 

Use a come-along to winch down the driveway once you have it out of the garage and then back into garage.
Park your least favorite car/truck halfway down the driveway !

 

You're not kidding. My trailer has ten times more mileage from other people's crap. But it's my own fault because I offer it.

 

Harbor freight wheel dolly and some old tires.

 

Oh no, you need to hook to the frame not the steering gear.

 

 

i have a tow dolly and will say that backing one up is a bee otch.ya know a pic of your driveway could shed some light as to a better solution,or not.but as always we love pics.

 

You can lock the steering in place by using two ratchet straps. Hook one side to the spindle and the other side to the opposite frame rail. Do this on each side and ratchet down tight. I did this on a truck with out a steering column. Depending how steep your drive is, you can use an old tire (or two) and put between the front bumper of your truck and back bumper of the car and slowly ease the car out, put the motor in, and push the car back in with the truck/old tire set up. Again, not knowing how steep your is. Helps to have two spotters and move slowly. Of course I'm with the others... Pay the 100-200 bucks and have it safely moved, turned around, and put in backwards so you can install the engine without moving it again. DISCLAIMER: Not responsible for any uh-oh's, Murphy's Law happenings or if Bubba shows up to help. Good luck with the car.