Looking forward to the milestone in the restoration, but this will be my first engine swap, so I'm just taking it slow and hoping for the best.

I have a load leveller and will be taking the engine and transmission out as one unit.

I have read quite a few tips and tricks on this forum, but any more that you would like to add, please feel free.

Wish me luck...

 

1) I think it would be much easier to take the tranny and engine out separately. It's hard enough to remove only the engine without taking apart everything forward the firewall.

2) Take photos prior removal. I promise you'll refer to them on reassembly.

3) Have some towels at the ready,..she'll spill some coolant.

4) You probably know this but your engine lift has to come in from the side, so remove the front wheel on that side or both wheels using jack stands in their usual locations.

5) You know this, but bag and tag everything, especially fasteners.

Good luck!

 

Thanks, 73.

I already have nearly everything out of the way already. The radiator/condensor are out of the car, as are all of the accessories. I have been keeping fairly good inventory of what goes where, but my eventual setup will be changing up a lot anyway (serpentine acessories, electric rad fans, no CCC carb or distributor, no cruise control).

I have read that pulling the radiator core support is not too big of a deal, so I might do that too.

Opinion seems to be split regarding the separate/together engine/trans issue. I'm rethinking that. Given that I have an auto, I would not have the input shaft issues of the 4sp guys.

 

I second pictures! My wife thought I was silly taking pics before I took my engine out. but those pics were a god send.
Sounds like your ready to go. just take is slow. I would remove the distributor because you could break it.

 

You may have already done so, but remove the hood. Makes it a lot easier. Also, make sure your engine hoist is big enough. I have a small foldable one that I tried to use. Coming in over the driver's side fender, the boom was about 3 inches too short. The hoist was all the way up against my fender and the boom wasn't yet centered over the engine. If you try to lift the engine that way, it will pull the hoist into the fender and damage it. I had to rent a larger hoist, but worked great with my leveler once I got it centered over the engine. I didn't pull the tranny, though. I left that in the car. Pulling the engine out was a piece of cake. Putting it back in was more challenging, but not terrible. Have fun!

 

Lift very slowly. You are going to miss disconnecting something, guaranteed. I did the engine and tranny together, and it was a piece of cake. Besides, I think you'll find it easier to get the tranny off while standing up rather than laying flat on your back.

 

Give yourself some reference points on exactly where to re-attach the hood when you're done so you don't have to spend a lot of time wrestling with it or risk scraping paint. I haven't pulled vette engine yet but on other cars I've drilled myself two very small holes through each hinge and hood (being very careful not to go too far) to make sure goes back on exactly how it came off.

 

I'm thinking about the trade off between the ease of separating the engine and trans taking them both together versus having to disconnect the shifter, driveshaft, etc...

 

If it's an auto tranny, drain the pan first.

Also. drain the coolant in the block with both 1/4" pipe plugs.

 

Pictures, pictures, pictures... I thought I took enough, but there were still some items that I missed. Also, if you have someone helping you with the removal, make sure they understand the game plan with labeling and marking. My Dad helped with the preparation and pulled a number of wires, didn't label until after, etc, etc. He had the motor out before and 'remembered' where everything went. Of course, he wasn't around when the time came to reconnect everything.

I dediced to tie off the Power steering and fuel pump and left them in the engine bay during the removal. This made the clearance a little easier.

I think someone covered this, but make sure you have plenty of clearance to move the hoist when the motor is fully elevated. My garage was really small, so we would up pushing the car back from the hoist. Moved the hoist, pushed the car back.

Also check to make sure you have adaquete boom to fully clear the engine bay/fender. The first time we picked the motor out of my 70, we realized that we didn't have enough boom to clear the side of the bay, we had to drop the motor adjust the boom and repick it.

When you are ready to put your motor back in, I would suggest you buy the wiring diagram for your particular year. Even with everything labeled, this really came in handy on a number of items. Check Ecklers for this. They sell it laminated which is worth the $15 bucks.

 

My brother and I pulled it today with minimal problems. The worst of it was when we forgot tp unbolt the ground strap, but luckily we noticed it before we got any tension on it. One of the things I am doing while it is out is replacing the engine harness, so I labeled the new one before disconnecting the old one.

The boom on the crane was just long enough, but it worked.

Thanks for all the tips.

 

All you have left now is drink beer & throw $100 bills at it.

 

...and clean your fingernails for a week.

 

MAN Sooooo, True.....

There cars are fairly easy to fukk the engine on.... compred to a newer car. I used to own Fiero GT's. What a PITA they are to pull...
But after you do one..

 

I just removed the engine, I am unaware of that particular procedure.

 

Now you can start the painstaking process of cleaning it and monkeying around with everything you can get your hands on now that you couldn't before!

I didn't read the entire thread but check things like the pan gaskets and timing chain cover gaskets if applicable- much easier to see and work on with the engine out. Also an easier time to clean out the engine compartment and paint if warranted (firewall?).

Good luck.

 

I had typed that reply via my blackberry.. you would think that I either had some major issues ot I was having a 12 pack....

 

and buying 100's of can's of brake cleaner...(to spray down the frame and de-crud...)