So I am redoing a 1987 savage in my spare time.  yes I know it is going to snow on the day that I get this done and I ride year round so I will be making smiley faces in the street that day in the snow.  I have painted the top end with some 500 degree paint only it was gloss and phish scaled so I tryed a 2000 degree flat black paint...and it bubbled.  so I am stripping down what is painted.   the question I have is that at work when we split the cases on a harley we put the bottom end in the chassis most of the time and then build the top end while in the bike.   Less weight to maneuver.  In this savage when I pulled the engine I laid the bike on its side on a blanket and pulled the engine out.   I am just wondering...can I put the lower end in the chassis and then do I have clearance to put the cylinder and head and rocker cover in while in the chassis.  Another question.  I am not putting the chrome covers back on the sides of the rocker and I am wondering if the bolts that go in those spots are sealing bolts or just to leave them out...?  If so I will need to find equivalant bolts that are shorter...?   Thanks in advance.

I would build it on the bench and put it back the same way you took it out.  Getting the head cover on in the frame is a little tight otherwise.

What's the bottom end of a harley weight?  100lbs?

Just as OF said, all the holes are blind, only put something in there if you can't stand an empty hole    All except the left front as it does offer some support to the sealing of the head cover.  That's the one that's captured bolt.  You can either use the same one (convienent if you decide to put the covers on) and drop a spacer on it and open ended nut.  Or put a shorter one in.  I put a shorter one in from on top (cause I forgot it) and pushed a nut in the fins.

Iveheard of folks laying an engine on its side & laying the frame down over it.