How to get an engine out?

[TimR]

Going to have a go at taking the engine and transmission out this weekend. We have borrowed an engine crane and i have been disconnecting and draining everything.
I've got a couple of questions to get started.
Do i just have to unbolt these four bolts to get the shaft off?

If the transmission tips down to get the engine out will the steering need to be disconnected?

We just had a look with the engine crane and the support arms can't fit under was going to jack the car up then put the crane in or is there an easier way?

I have never taken an engine out before so any advice would be great. Thanks a lot

[Trev]

Going to have a go at taking the engine and transmission out this weekend. We have borrowed an engine crane and i have been disconnecting and draining everything.
I've got a couple of questions to get started.
Do i just have to unbolt these four bolts to get the shaft off?

Don't undo those bolts, undo the ones that join to the uni joint near the diff, then just pull the shaft out of the back of the box. Then remove the gearbox cross member.

If the transmission tips down to get the engine out will the steering need to be disconnected?

No.

We just had a look with the engine crane and the support arms can't fit under was going to jack the car up then put the crane in or is there an easier way?

The engine crane should have an extendable lifting arm, that should help.

I have never taken an engine out before so any advice would be great. Thanks a lot

If you have a manual it explains step by step how to do it.
Or just learn as you go, by the time you've done it 4 or 5 times you will be the one giving advise on here, Trev

[yeprat1]

i just ripped my engine out using a crane i just extended the arm out further but it depends what weight the crane can handle

[Blacky]

And dont forget to drain the oil out of the gearbox, or put a dummy shaft in it .

[thropzed]

What ever happened to the good ól block'n'tackle?
Remove radiator and support rail,grill,bonnet etc, Undo all engine mounts, disconnect gearbox linkages, hook up chain and pwola out she comes engine gearbox and all, tailshaft will fall out, thats when ya mate gets underneath and sticks a rag in the back of the gearbox to stop the fluids, get it on the ground and sort out the rest.
My 2 cents has worked for me on many timing gear and flywheel changes.
Gotta love Grey motors!!!
Cheers Theo Z...............

[FCOV6]

Nothing wrong with the block n tackle, taken many an engine out in my old mans garage using one but mostly on vintage cars where once you remove the rad and bonnet you can come almost straight out.

[FB MAD]

Tim,

1st pic,
The four bolts circled in your top pick only hold the floor crossbrace/gearbox crossmember in.The gearbox isn't mounted to that crossmember but the crossmember has to be removed to pull out the motor and gearbox as one unit.Basically the gearbox is just bolted to the motor and hangs there with no rear support.

Tailshaft can be undone with a 7/16th ( or 11 mm) spanner by undoing the 4 bolts holding it to the diff centre pinion.Wrap tape around the rear uni joint because,as sure as shit,if you don't, the uni cap will come off and you'll most likely lose all or some of the needle rollers.




2nd pic,

Steering shouldn't need to be disconnected if you have the engine/gearbox at the right lifting angle ( approx 30 degrees) but you could disconnect the idler arm via undoing the attachment bolts at the subframe member ( passenger side) should you need to.This will drop the steering down a little.






3rd pic,

Jack up the car high enough to get the jack stands under the car.

Place your engine stands under the floor crossbrace members which are approx underneath the footwell ( floorpan) of the front floors.

Hopefully they aren't rusted out or otherwise the weight of the car when lowered onto the stands will crush the rusted floor crossbrace.

This should then allow you to get engine crane support arms underneath the car unhindered.



Don't remove the road wheels, you don't really need to and they can help to prevent you from being completely crushed under the car if something goes wrong and the car slips off the jack stands ( yes, I've seen it happen in a workshop with poor quality jack stands and bad placement of jack stands under the car)




If you have the GMH lifting jig the grey motors are a cinch to pull out but can be a pain in the arse to pull out without one as there is very little areas to attach lifting chains to be able to pull it out easily and at the right angle.

Can be done though.



I've actually pulled out a grey motor/gearbox with home made jig that attaches to the 2 rocker cover hold down nuts although I wouldn't advise doing it that way.



This advice and advice already given from other blokes should set you in the right direction.

If you need any more advice getting it out ask here and I'm sure someone will be able to help you out.



Hope this bit of info helps,

Terry.

[EK283]

As above,

You could also jack the car up and put some bricks or timber under the front wheels if you dont have any stands( make sure you chock the rear ).


Regards Greg

[karsten]

get some one to help you,, and dont forget these things can kill if they land on you so avoid working under suspended loads as they can slip if they are lifted with a crap rope i used a chain or a webbing strap of a semi you know them things we strap loads down on a flat top semis with,,,feed the strap back through the strap buckle that normaly clips to the side of a trailer,, and it acts as a slip not,,,so as you put the load on strap it actually gets tighter ,,was great cause you could ofset the buckle as to find the centre of gravity so she comes out verticle, and between the manifold and the block is where you need to feed it behind the center intake is where i found it best,,,, and the rest was like theo said,,, block and tackle to the bucket of a bobcat , or a gum tree limb or whatever ,,,

[TimR]

Done!


Thanks for all the help and advice everyone.
It means a lot to get so many detailed replies and the safety tips are always welcome!

[Trev]

No worries Tim, easy wasn't it , Trev .

[EKSPCL]

Well done Tim. Just remember where everything came from and label all your bolts
I just put mine back in after nearly 3 years.
I didn't label mine