PortlandTom

I'm just about ready to pull the engine in my '93 GTS - I'm going to have the engine refreshed after blowing a head gasket,

I've got my car up on lift bars, and need to lower it before hoisting the engine out. I want to make sure the engine can't move when the car tilts during the lowering process.

I was going to remove the engine mount bolts and lower bell housing bolts, tighten the upper bell housing bolts, and reinstall the transmission bolts before lowering the car. But in the WSM, it looks like the transmission bolts need to stay out.This means the engine would not be solidly attached to the car when I lower it.

This doesn't seem safe to me. Is there a better sequence of steps? Is it possible to reach the engine bolts with car on the ground?

TIA,
Tom D. '93 GTS, 5spd. Amazon Green

Majestic Moose

What kind of hoist are you using? With the liftbars on your jackstands at the lowest setting, you should be able to lift the engine out and also have plenty of room to crawl underneath.

ammonman

On the AT cars the trans and torque tube must be unbolted and slid back around .5" to allow the dowel pins between the block and clutch/flex plate housing to come clear. When I did my engine refresh I was able to hoist the engine clear using my 2ton HF crane and the car up on 6 ton stands.

PortlandTom

I recall reading threads where the posters could barely clear the fenders with the car on the ground when hoisting the engine. Sounds like it's not necessarily a problem, though.

Does it depend on the size hoist used? I don't have a hoist yet - I'm going to rent/borrow one from a local auto store. I also have 6 ton jack stands.

Thanks,
Tom

Rob Edwards

With a 928 on 6 ton stands on the 2nd notch or so and liftbars, the generic 2-ton engine hoist should be able to lift the motor high enough to get it in the car. You will want to set the arm on the hoist at the 1/2 ton setting (as far out as possible) and you'll want to use as short a pair of chains as you can to the motor so it's close to the lifting hook on the hoist. And put a big cushion/pad on the front bumper cover, often the cylinder of the hoist needs to rest against the bumper to get the engine far enough 'back' over the opening. A leveler is a good idea too to get the engine horizontal on the hoist.

gbgastowers

ammonman

I put the hoist in from the side to ensure enough reach. +1 on setting the hoist arm at the 1/2 ton length to get the max reach. Be sure to get a load leveler to tilt the engine as you remove/install.

GregBBRD

To answer your question:

The engine is actually ok, just sitting on the rubber engine mounts, with the bell housing detached and pulled back. Hell, you can even pull the bolts out of the mounts, too.

It will rock quite a bit, but it really can't go anywhere.

PortlandTom

Sounds like I'm fine whether I drop the car to the ground before or after taking out the engine. Thanks to all of you for your comments.

Tom D.
93 GTS, Amazon Green, 5sp.

Taguid

I pull it from the side.