Big Dave

Ok....so the engine is in the air to the point that the oil filler cap is about 8-10 inches higher than the tops of the fenders.

The wire on the crossmember is free.

The fan and radiator are out.

However, the engine still doesn't want to come any further out. First, the backing plates for the timing belt covers were getting hung up on the crossbar mounting points. I've now cleared those. The only the I haven't done is push the rubber plug in the fuse panel through to the engine bay. I just can't get the leverage to do it. Could this be hanging me up, holding the engine?

In general, I'm curious whether folks who have pulled their engines have had to wiggle and maneuver the engines to actually get them free of the engine bay? Or do the normally just come right up when they're disconnected? Where I'm at now, if I lift the engine any more, the whole car wants to come up with it.

Comments, suggestions???

I'm so close....

V-Fib

Is your A/C compressor removed or disconnected?I hung mine with wire from the suspension. Did not lose the charge after reinstalling it. Power steering hoses disconnected? I did not have a hassle with the electrical wiring, it just disconnected at the front.

Big Dave

The A/C compressor is hanging free. The power steering pump is off the engine block, so it's not holding the engine...it's hanging free.

You mean you chased the main wiring harness down to where it connected at various points (seems like many) and disconnected them from the engine?

V-Fib

My wiring harness on the 79 has one major plug at the front. The only other electrical wire to disconnect is the green wire on the distributor. One of the advantages of an OB. Your's is probably alot different. I wish I could be of more assistance.

Tony

Big ole gound wire?

SharkSkin

I assume you disconnected the fat wire that goes from the battery to the starter?

FlyingDog

Get a long string, tie a nut to each end, drop on on each side of the engine, and slowly work it from the chain back, then the chain forward. It will catch on anything you haven't disconnected.

Mark

Stupid/simple question....You DID undo the torque tube coupler, didn't you?

I had a similar problem when removing a 5-spd motor - forgot to 'un-pop' the ball cup on the clutch! Only took me 2.5 hours to figure it out!

hupp

Mark,

I think Dave is removing the engine with the bell housing installed.

Dave,

These things do take a little maneuvering to get free. Check again to ensure all wires are disconnected and hanging free. Some of the areas where my engine hung up were: Rear of bell housing would catch on firewall. The bottom of the engine would catch on the mounts, or the manifolds would catch on the heat shields. I found that as one tries to avoid interferances in the top of the engine bay one forgets about the interferances in the bottom.

When I pulled my engine, I enlisted the help two others. A hoist operator and helpers on each side of the engine. Quite a bit of grunting going on to get the motor to slip out.

JP Rodkey

I agree with Tony - heck the passenger side from oil pan to frame rail. There should be about a 4 guage copper braided cable for ground. Also, the harness through the firewall can interfere, but you should be able to see where it might be binding. You're pulling the motor with the bell housing installed? I think I posted last week that pulling the engine with the bell housing is much harder, IMO, because the engine/housing has to be angled a bunch in order to pull up and out of the bay. The way the motor mounts are made requires the engine to lift up quite a bit before you can pull the assembly forward in the bay. Keep at it.

AO

The once was a big man from Michigan,
tried to remove his 928 engine,
he tried and tried with all his might,
But damn if that thing wasn't tight!

Posted questions on his favorite list,
The encouragement made his eyes mist.
Dave wiped his eyes and released his fear
for tonight he will have a beer!

He'll coax his fellow 928ers and all,
to join him at the "Garbage-mahal."
With many hands - sturdy and stout,
together, we'll finally get that engine out!

Big Dave

I'm reasonably sure that I've gotten all the wires disconnected, but start hunting for the ground wire. The motor mounts are up and over their intereference points, so they're not stopping the removal. I've crawled under several times to make sure.

I'll have to enlist another set of eyes & hands. Unfortunately I won't have time this weekend to do it. OH well!

rixter

Dave, if removing with the bell housing still on you're probably gonna have to tilt it quite a bit to clear
and extra hands are almost a necessity

Big Dave

After that witty poem, Mr. Olson, you would be wise to wear garage attire this evening.

cambria

Dave, have loosened and moved the transaxle back about 1"?