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Engine Removal Play-by-Play

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Old Nov 6, 2007 | 06:10 PM
  #1  
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Default Engine Removal Play-by-Play

What are the major steps for removing the engine
and transmission (four-speed) from a 1974 corvette.

Thanks in advance everyone.

Dan
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Old Nov 6, 2007 | 06:45 PM
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Drain all fluids, from the transmission, engine, and radiator. Get in through your shifter plate and disconnect the shifter from the transmission. Disconnect the pedal linkage from the clutch. Disconnect the harnesses from the transmission and engine, and remove the vacuum, coolant, and accessory hoses. Remove the fan and shroud and *** many accessories as you care to take out. Separate the exhaust manifolds. Unbolt the drive shaft, and remove it from the back of the transmission. Unbolt the transmission from the cross member and remove the motor mount bolts. Make sure motor and trans are supported when you're doing this. Use a load leveler, and a hoist or picker, and slowly start pulling the combo forward and out.
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Old Nov 6, 2007 | 07:30 PM
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position the car in a place where you'll be able to maneuver an engine hoist in front of the car and be able to roll it out from the engine bay.

disconnect the positive cable from the battery

Starting from the bottom side, car on jackstands

drain the water and trans oil

unbolt the engine/trans mounts

disconnect the exhaust

disconnect the battery cable from starter and engine to frame grounds

disconnect the driveshaft from the trans.

disconnect the transmission linkages/remove the shift lever

from the topside:

remove the hood

disconnect the radiator (I remove it as well as the radiator support so I can leave the accessories bolted to the front of the engine).

remove the distributor, you'll need to be able to tilt the engine without it hitting the firewall.

disconnect the throttle cable

disconnect ignition wiring

disconnect the fuel/vacuum lines

remove the car from the jackstands

I think that covers everything, position the hoist from the front (rent one with a long reach) and lift it out slowly checking for anything that's still connected, it helps to have another person for the removal/reinstall. There are some variations of doing this, I'm sure others will offer theirs.

Edit: DB you beat me to it.

Last edited by shafrs3; Nov 6, 2007 at 07:36 PM.
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 10:01 AM
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I'll be pulling my motor and tranny as well. I have a 72 sb with TH400. Is there any need to remove the radiator?? I'll be putting in a ZZ4 and 2004R. I MAY not be able to get my hoist in front, but can I do this with hoist on the side?

Thanks!
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 10:03 AM
  #5  
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Originally Posted by MakoShark72
I'll be pulling my motor and tranny as well. I have a 72 sb with TH400. Is there any need to remove the radiator?? I'll be putting in a ZZ4 and 2004R. I MAY not be able to get my hoist in front, but can I do this with hoist on the side?

Thanks!

It's safer to remove the radiator but in most cases it's not needed. On the other side, if you 'accidentally' put a hole in your stock radiator, maybe the wife would let you get a new DeWitts.
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 11:32 AM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by MakoShark72
I'll be pulling my motor and tranny as well. I have a 72 sb with TH400. Is there any need to remove the radiator?? I'll be putting in a ZZ4 and 2004R. I MAY not be able to get my hoist in front, but can I do this with hoist on the side?

Thanks!
You will have to pluck the motor from the side of the vehicle. If not you may damage the front end. I removed my SB by myself. I put the front left side on a jack stand and removed the wheel. The hoist slid right in with no problem. Make sure you have some room to maneuver the hoist when the engine is out and hovering above the car. Also, make sure the floor is clean so the hoist doesn't get stuck when moving it around.
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 08:14 PM
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I just swapped the motor only in my 75 with the radiator in. When its motor and tranny, it is easier to pull the radiator and core support
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 08:21 PM
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It doesn't hurt to take the distributor out to give more clearance. You're gonna need to tilt the motor quite a bit to get it out with the tranny.

Chris
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 09:16 PM
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If you have a short reach hoist, its easiest to pull the LF tire and move the hoist in that way.










This pic gives you an idea of just how much room you have when you pull the radiator and support.
This is the 454 in the white 75 that I swapped in the black 70 before I swapped in the 350 that I later swapped into the black 75.


Last edited by Fastguy; Nov 7, 2007 at 09:19 PM.
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