This is on a 2000 Expedition, if I decide to swap the motor for a another unit am I better off leaving the transmission in there?

Or does it make better sense to remove it with the motor?

The procedure I have says disconnecting it from the trans, but I was wondering what the preference is on here...

 

If your not swapping the trany for another one,why would you leave it bolted to the motor?
Yes,leave the trany in the truck.
It's tight just taking the motor out, you don't want all the extra mass and weight slowing you down.

 

done it both ways i agree if your just taking the motor out to swap motors just do that.

it is very tight getting just the motor out.

to get motor and trans out we damn near had that thing pointed stright up

 

Cool - if I decide to go at it I'll be removing as much from the front as possible, hood, radiator, grill if it helps! lol

 

Yeah, take off the hood and radiator.
It helps to take off the intake-manifold also.

 

I'm going to remove the intake manifold for sure - I guess there's a special tool I get that helps with attaching the hoist/chain to the motor? Or is there a way around having to order that tool?