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Need advice on tricky engine removal

Posted: May 16th, 2010, 5:40 pm
by daryl
I've the car on medium sized axel stands in my home garage, with all the front suspension components already removed and sent off to be blasted and painted.

Only I now need to remove the bloody engine, its too high to lift out, got any ideas?

Remove front bumper, rad, rad support, drop gearbox down and slide the engine out the gap? Is this possible???

Re: Need advice on tricky engine removal

Posted: May 16th, 2010, 5:49 pm
by Daninski
Just use a lift that can handle the height, most can. I lifted and reinstalled with no problems except I did have the rad removed. Just be careful of the VRIS, they come really close to the firewall. I suggest two people, one to control the cheery picker and the other to guide and watch the engine. Go slow and keep stopping to check for clearances. Use a light to be sure. Enjoy.

Re: Need advice on tricky engine removal

Posted: May 16th, 2010, 5:59 pm
by daryl
No can do the garage roof is too low to lift over the bonnet.
Done 3 KLZE engine swaps, and usually hoist out the top but this one is tricky.

Just want to know what will remove from the front, and If I can fit the engine out that way?

I can lift it a bit but not much at all....

Re: Need advice on tricky engine removal

Posted: May 16th, 2010, 7:15 pm
by Ryan
The rad support is welded in, no way to completely open the front without cutting/welding.

Lower the car onto some sort of wheel dolly or a caster invention, and roll it out of the garage.

Or, pick up the car by the lower crossmember with the hoist (and a long chain), roll it back that way, put it back down on stands, remove engine, pull back in same way.


OR, jack the car up as high as possible using the engine hoist and try dropping it out the bottom. Drops out the bottom are usually easier.

remove front and rear mounts, and crossmember. loosen off side mounts. Raise engine just to take the stress off the side mounts, remove bolts, and then lower engine into a tire on the ground. Let it go, and then raise the car using the hoist, and wiggle the motor out the side or bottom. You should actually be able to man handle the car without the motor in it.

Re: Need advice on tricky engine removal

Posted: May 16th, 2010, 7:58 pm
by Daninski
Use a jack dolly ad support the car by the fron jack point. Lower it right down then hoist in the motor. You can lay the car down on the floor as long as there's no wires or lines to get crushed then raise it once the motors in place. I would of done it out side it the roof is that low. I did an entire removal, rebuild and install in the winter, in the snow, up hill both ways once. No problem. Now stop whining and do the swap. Sheeez :P

Re: Need advice on tricky engine removal

Posted: May 16th, 2010, 8:37 pm
by Daninski
Ok I've pondered the idea you have of dropping the front end to install the engine and I just can't justify why you would put yourself through all that extra work. Drop the front of the car on the ground lift the engine over the front of the car then raise the car. Anything other than that is complete insanity. IMO

Re: Need advice on tricky engine removal

Posted: May 17th, 2010, 5:02 am
by daryl
It was just a thought as I have a bodykit going on and new radiator going in anyway.

Its already got a KLZE in there by the way (done several ze swaps), I'm taking it out so I can re-paint some bits the same colour as my new paint colour (spraying the car you see) and so I can spray the engine bay.

There is no suspension at all, front and back at the moment (being powder coated) so its on 4 stands at the moment and not easy to move round, but I will figure it out.

I would have taken the engin out first, but at the begining I wasn't going to bother painting the engine bay. But now that I'm getting stuck in I want to do it right so the engine is now coming out.

Re: Need advice on tricky engine removal

Posted: May 17th, 2010, 9:06 am
by mazdags94
You could just wait til your powdercoated parts come back, reinstall them, then drop the car and pull the engine out...

I've thrown myself some curveballs before too but from my experience, it's always safer to just take your time and do things in such a way that you know will work 100%.