81 engine removal questions
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
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81 engine removal questions
I am going to remove my 81 corvette motor this weekend. Any step by step threads on this topic? I am not bad with cars but have never pulled a motor. I have done transmissions and on car service to the motor before though.
looking to simply remove old engine, remove ac and lines, and put the accesories on new motor and put into car. Thanks, Jarred.
looking to simply remove old engine, remove ac and lines, and put the accesories on new motor and put into car. Thanks, Jarred.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 14
From: Dallas-Fort Worth TX
Well, I hear its much easier with the radiator out first. Be a good time to clean up the engine bay and mounts.
Also need to remove the driver or pass side tire and slide the feet of your engine hoist in from the side vs the front. I think a lot of hoists are not long enough to pull from the front.
Lay the compressor to the side vs removing the ac lines. If you plan on re using the same compressor for ac. If you do remove, be-careful, its all under pressure.
Safety........
Also need to remove the driver or pass side tire and slide the feet of your engine hoist in from the side vs the front. I think a lot of hoists are not long enough to pull from the front.
Lay the compressor to the side vs removing the ac lines. If you plan on re using the same compressor for ac. If you do remove, be-careful, its all under pressure.
Safety........
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Manahawkin NJ
Make sure you unbolt the torque converter and push it back. I once saw the results of someone (OK it was me but I was 16 years old at the time) pulling a motor with the converter on the flywheel. I tried to reinstall the it with the converter on the motor and did not get the converter fully seated and it broke the pump when the car was started.
Clutch and preasure plate on motor=good
Torque converter on motor=bad
Clutch and preasure plate on motor=good
Torque converter on motor=bad
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
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Do I have to take the starter off the motor? I know i have to undo the wires to the starter but do I take it off the block too, I think that I should. Last night I took the exaust off so I can do a good job cleaning it. There is oil burnt all over it even on the mufflers.
I have a freind coming over to help unload new motor from my jeep and to help get the hood off, trouble is where do you store the hood out of the way and not step on it. I also have to clean it as it is covered in oil as well.
I want to get the ac right out of the car as it does not work anyway. I have to clean up the rad too as there are leaves in there from 30 years ago I am sure. I will try to get pics up tonight.
Tom thanks but I am in Canada, out west in alberta.
Thanks, Jarred.
I have a freind coming over to help unload new motor from my jeep and to help get the hood off, trouble is where do you store the hood out of the way and not step on it. I also have to clean it as it is covered in oil as well.
I want to get the ac right out of the car as it does not work anyway. I have to clean up the rad too as there are leaves in there from 30 years ago I am sure. I will try to get pics up tonight.
Tom thanks but I am in Canada, out west in alberta.
Thanks, Jarred.
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Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 596
Likes: 6
From: Irving Texas
When I pulled my 1981 engine, I removed the front passenger tire and pulled the engine. Yes, I removed as much off the block as possible, including the starter, exhaust manifolds, heads and pulleys.
In this pic, notice all the stuff off the block and the hood still on as well as the radiator shroud.
In this pic, notice all the stuff off the block and the hood still on as well as the radiator shroud.
Last edited by snoopykissedlucy; Jul 24, 2010 at 01:51 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
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From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
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From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
pulled my 81 motor out with the hood removed, radiator remained in. starter will come out with the old motor. good luck, make sure the car is properly jacked on jack stands .
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Instructor
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When the motor comes out do I have to have it on Jack stands?? I thought it would be better to not have it on stands so the engine lift does not have to pull the motor up as high? Also to remove the torque converter and the bell housing bolts I am gonna be under the car, then I will have to jack the trans to hold it up right? How am I gonna lower the car off stands if the trans is held up with a jack at the same time??
There is alot of vac lines going to the carb as well as sensor harness on the carb, my new carb does not need all the sensors. So what did you guys do with all those unused vac lines and wires. I have to cap off the vac lines right?? or Ill have many small vac leaks. The wires I am thinking of just tucking away, unless there is a way to separate the wires I need to keep and the ones I don't.
Thanks, Jarred.
Sorry for the newB questions.
There is alot of vac lines going to the carb as well as sensor harness on the carb, my new carb does not need all the sensors. So what did you guys do with all those unused vac lines and wires. I have to cap off the vac lines right?? or Ill have many small vac leaks. The wires I am thinking of just tucking away, unless there is a way to separate the wires I need to keep and the ones I don't.
Thanks, Jarred.
Sorry for the newB questions.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
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OK so I removed all the accessories. I could not get the fan shroud off, and I could not get the fan off the water pump, so I took the water pump off with the fan on it and when I went to pull it out and away from the shroud I squished my finger between the pump and the rad hose inlet thing on the top front of the intake. So I am done for tonight.
I am finding that the more I take off the more I think that well I have the motor out I should fix/replace all these other things like the steering and the front suspension. But the budget won't allow that to happen.
I still need to take the oil pressure sending sensor thing off the back of the block and unbold the tc and the bell housing. Right now the car is up on jacks so I will unbolt the bell housing and then lower the car. then support the trans and pull the bolts out.
I want to post some pics up but there is no place to attach image, jus tthe insert image icon and nothin happens when I press it, can anyone tell me how I can upload images from my comp.
THanks,
Jarred
I am finding that the more I take off the more I think that well I have the motor out I should fix/replace all these other things like the steering and the front suspension. But the budget won't allow that to happen.
I still need to take the oil pressure sending sensor thing off the back of the block and unbold the tc and the bell housing. Right now the car is up on jacks so I will unbolt the bell housing and then lower the car. then support the trans and pull the bolts out.
I want to post some pics up but there is no place to attach image, jus tthe insert image icon and nothin happens when I press it, can anyone tell me how I can upload images from my comp.
THanks,
Jarred
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 14
From: Dallas-Fort Worth TX
The only jack you should need one of the right or left side of the car, which ever side you decide to pull the engine from since that tire will be off. Should not have to use any other jacks, except that one. Support the trans if you leave it in the car.
Photobucket.com is one of the places where you upload your pics. Then add that image link to the thread and it will pull from that per the insert image icon.
Photobucket.com is one of the places where you upload your pics. Then add that image link to the thread and it will pull from that per the insert image icon.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 27
From: Eastern North Carolina
I'm getting ready to do this myself on my 81 so I'm watching this thread carefully. I don't know but I would think that the front end should have jacks on both sides. I can't see crawling under the car to unbolt the tranny or anything else without having the front end up in the air. One last thought, if you plan on removing the engine and trans together, the car is going to have to be "I'm guessing" at least 18 inches up above the floor to give the tranny room for the tail shaft to swing down. Just my 2 cents, once again I have never done this, maybe somebody with more knowledge will pipe in....Tim
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I am not gonna take the trans out, there is nothing wrong with it so I am leaving it in. I may remove it in the winter and have my gf's cousin put a shift kit in, he has built over 900 transmissions at a local corvette dealership.
When I get home I will try to post up pics, I am going after work to get a high flow water pump (edelbrock) as my existing one is pained orange and I am sure it is the original one. I am also going to hose out the rad while it is still in the car, I have not removed it and I don't think I will.
Maybe I will get the motor out tonight or tomorrow, I have to go to my gf's moms place so if not tonight tomorrow.
Also gonna get a new alternator belt, I have tall valve covers on my new motor and the will hit the alternator, so I am going to have to move it out some.
When I get home I will try to post up pics, I am going after work to get a high flow water pump (edelbrock) as my existing one is pained orange and I am sure it is the original one. I am also going to hose out the rad while it is still in the car, I have not removed it and I don't think I will.
Maybe I will get the motor out tonight or tomorrow, I have to go to my gf's moms place so if not tonight tomorrow.
Also gonna get a new alternator belt, I have tall valve covers on my new motor and the will hit the alternator, so I am going to have to move it out some.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 5
From: Middleburg Florida
There are many ways to do this. With the trans attached, without it, complete engine, long block, short block, lots of options. It really comes down to what works for you based on what your going to do. Leaving the trans on the engine isn't that big of a deal, and frankly, it's less work becuase you'll have to pull the crossmemeber anyway to tilt the engine/trans assembly down far enough to get to the bolts that have it bolted to the engine. Leaving the trans on the engine when you pull it, you pull the drive shaft (8 bolts), the crossmember (4 bolts) the speedometer cable (1 bolt), the coverter lock up wiring (one plug), the shifter cable (1 cotter pin) and the two cooling lines. To disconnect the trans, you have the crossmember, likely the drive shaft, the torque converter bolts, and the mounting bolts to the engine.
By pulling the trans you can clean everything up and fix/modify whatever you need to at the same time. Here's what it looked like when I pulled mine.
By pulling the trans you can clean everything up and fix/modify whatever you need to at the same time. Here's what it looked like when I pulled mine.
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Instructor
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Got it out!!!
OK so I got it out and there was alot more gasoline in the fuel lines than I thought as well as coolant in the block. My garage is a MESS!
I am happy to have it out though, torque converter bolts were really tough to get off, wow. I had to cut the fuel line off from the carb as it would not unscrew, it was stripped, not me either.
Questions.....
1. what do I do with the vac line that goes to the trans??
2. how can I lower the front suspension with the new motor, I think the front is gonna be raised as new motor is lighter, is now a good time to change or modify front springs?
3. what is the best way to clean up engine bay, I have alot of mess and oil and coolant all over and alot of oil on the underside of the car?
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...project006.jpg
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...6.jpg&newest=1
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...9.jpg&newest=1
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...2.jpg&newest=1
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...3.jpg&newest=1
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...4.jpg&newest=1
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...5.jpg&newest=1
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...6.jpg&newest=1
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...1.jpg&newest=1
I am happy to have it out though, torque converter bolts were really tough to get off, wow. I had to cut the fuel line off from the carb as it would not unscrew, it was stripped, not me either.
Questions.....
1. what do I do with the vac line that goes to the trans??
2. how can I lower the front suspension with the new motor, I think the front is gonna be raised as new motor is lighter, is now a good time to change or modify front springs?
3. what is the best way to clean up engine bay, I have alot of mess and oil and coolant all over and alot of oil on the underside of the car?
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...project006.jpg
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...6.jpg&newest=1
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...9.jpg&newest=1
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...2.jpg&newest=1
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...3.jpg&newest=1
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...4.jpg&newest=1
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...5.jpg&newest=1
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...6.jpg&newest=1
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/h...1.jpg&newest=1
Last edited by jarredsoon; Jul 29, 2010 at 10:18 AM.