Engine Change
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Engine Change
I am about to pull the engine and transmission from my 71 350/auto. I am wondering how high up off the ground do I need to get the car? I have a engine hoist that will allow me to tip the engine and tranny for removal. I am building some sturdy wood platforms to set the frame on when I get the car up in the air that are about 16" tall. Will this allow enough ground clearance to remove both engine and tranny?
Last edited by b-line; Dec 27, 2005 at 10:34 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,086
Likes: 786
From: Lebanon Township New Jersey
You can still jack up the front end while you're pulling the engine and trans. You are probably going to have to remove the fan shroud and radiator for clearance.
I removed motor and trans separately and didn't have to remove the shroud and radiator.
I removed motor and trans separately and didn't have to remove the shroud and radiator.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by b-line
I am about to pull the engine and transmission from my 71 350/auto. I am wondering how high up off the ground do I need to get the car? I have a engine hoist that will allow me to tip the engine and tranny for removal. I am building some sturdy wood platforms to set the frame on when I get the car up in the air that are about 16" tall. Will this allow enough ground clearance to remove both engine and tranny?
Last edited by bobs77vet; Dec 27, 2005 at 10:44 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
am confused why you want to jack the car up? no need to jack it up at all other than a-arms hitting the hoist legs, but you can get that clearance by grabbing the fender lip and pulling up. you will find however that you will need a really long hoist to grab engine from the front. even if you have one you may need a buddy to stand on the other end to counter balance it. ( i used one of my kids ). you can pull the tire and pull from the side if you have enough room to back the hoist away on solid ground.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 3
From: Burlington WI
you will find however that you will need a really long hoist to grab engine from the front. even if you have one you may need a buddy to stand on the other end to counter balance it. ( i used one of my kids ). you can pull the tire and pull from the side if you have enough room to back the hoist away on solid ground.
I pulled the left front tire and went in from the side to pull my engine by itself.
My hoist wasnt long enough to go in from the front.
I just supported the trans on a jack with a board on it.
Chris B
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
From: Des Allemands LA
Originally Posted by redc3
am confused why you want to jack the car up? no need to jack it up at all other than a-arms hitting the hoist legs, but you can get that clearance by grabbing the fender lip and pulling up. you will find however that you will need a really long hoist to grab engine from the front. even if you have one you may need a buddy to stand on the other end to counter balance it. ( i used one of my kids ). you can pull the tire and pull from the side if you have enough room to back the hoist away on solid ground.
I think he is concerned with the angle of the tailshaft and clearance between the ground and tail shaft when tilting the engine/trans assembly. If you have enough room to work under the car and unbolt everything you will have enough room do what you need to do to get engine and trans out. Last time I put mine in I didn't even take out the crossmember and there was no drama involved, matter of fact I didn't take out the radiator either now that I think about it.
ltlevil
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Part of the answer depends on how long the arm on your hoist is...i.e. can you get the engine high enough from the front. I have a small block and got the engine and transmission in and out from the front while the car was on jack stands (probably not far from 16" up). I also used the engine "leveler" or whatever it's called and didn't have to remove the radiator support (although it cleared only by a half inch). You should have no problems if the radiator support is gone. I also had no assistance and it wasn't that bad. I've got some shots here:
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/zma...ginepage04.htm
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/zma...ginepage04.htm
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
heres our stuff going back in....we started from the front and then we pulled the engine hoist over to the side to finish the job the rest of the way.... our radiator was out.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
You got it "ltlevil" ground clearance when pulling both engine and trans. However, after reading yours and bobs77vet threads it sounds like I can do it without having to get the car very high up. I don't like the idea of working under the car while it is on jack stands so I am in the process of building some wood platforms for the car to rest on that will I hope stabilize it for some other work I need to do. I will take it out from the side as you suggest. The new engine is a 383 stroker from Tand L Engines in N. Carolina. Also, thanks to bobs77vet for the pictures. You have further inspired me to go forward with the project.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,997
Likes: 1
From: WAY DEEP INSIDE AMERICO,YES YOU LIVE HERE TO!! TX
Originally Posted by bobs77vet
heres our stuff going back in....we started from the front and then we pulled the engine hoist over to the side to finish the job the rest of the way.... our radiator was out.
[IMG][/IMG]
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I just pulled my motor out this monday. All you have to do
is take one wheel off and pull both the motor and trans at the same
time. I will post pictures tomorrow
the car does not need to be jacked up. 
You can do it without having to pull the core support.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
MEGALADON:
I saw your thread on the engine removal along with the pic's. Looks like this job isn't going to be as bad as I thought. Just a lot of labor. Thanks for the help and by the way I am on the north side of Houston(Kingwood) if you are familar. Isn't it great to have built-in help?
I saw your thread on the engine removal along with the pic's. Looks like this job isn't going to be as bad as I thought. Just a lot of labor. Thanks for the help and by the way I am on the north side of Houston(Kingwood) if you are familar. Isn't it great to have built-in help?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,997
Likes: 1
From: WAY DEEP INSIDE AMERICO,YES YOU LIVE HERE TO!! TX
Originally Posted by b-line
MEGALADON:
I saw your thread on the engine removal along with the pic's. Looks like this job isn't going to be as bad as I thought. Just a lot of labor. Thanks for the help and by the way I am on the north side of Houston(Kingwood) if you are familar. Isn't it great to have built-in help?
I saw your thread on the engine removal along with the pic's. Looks like this job isn't going to be as bad as I thought. Just a lot of labor. Thanks for the help and by the way I am on the north side of Houston(Kingwood) if you are familar. Isn't it great to have built-in help?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
yes my core support was out also. and that is the time to do anything you need to with the headlights....
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Last edited by bobs77vet; Dec 28, 2005 at 10:11 PM.
