Have 2 454s that I'm going to be dropping into a 36ft boat any tips?

Lift with your knees.

don't drink till your done

too funny

Depending on room, put your exhaust manifolds on after you have the motors installed. makes getting to motor mounts easier

You're new to boating and starting off by dropping engines into a boat??

What make boat and what outdrives??

Don’t show/ let your buddy that’s helping you know that you’re not helping ?

it would help to know what you are doing. is this a boat that came to you with out engines. did you pull the engines and setting them back in now. were the transom and stringers replaced? what drives are on it, etc. then we know what you are dealing with.

Get an alignment tool...
get a copy of the manual for your engine/drive combo so you know torque specs.
Get a grease pencil and mark the nuts/bolts that you have tightened so you have a visual on what you have touched so nothing gets missed or forgotten if this is your first time doing this.
Clean the bilge perfect before you start so you are not trying to get around the motors later to get stuff clean.
Replace all the belts and hoses with new....dont assume they are good and have a day/weekend ruined with used stuff.
If you are unsure about something....replace it. Like potentially corroded battery cables...or rusty screws etc....no sense in going back later to fix it if your all ready there.
Im sure theres more but thats a start

Lol!!! Lift with your knees
Quote from Wally: "Get a grease pencil and mark the nuts/bolts that you have tightened so you have a visual on what you have touched so nothing gets missed or forgotten if this is your first time doing this."
I just went through this and I didn't mark a thing and missed 2 oil line fittings that it looks like I didn't even try to tighten. Had to pull the back seat to get to them.