Ok guys this may seem like a silly question but I'm stumped. I started to pull the engine out of my '75 yesterday but the hoist was about a foot too short. Is there a way to get the engine out from the top without lifting the body?

 

Ive seen it done from the side, but recommend an over head trollie/crane system

 

rent or buy a big engine hoist .get 1 with a 8 ton ram ,and a long arm and legs .is the tranny already removed ?I unbolt the tranny and support it with a big car jack .I move the engine forward enough to clear the flex plate .

 

Need to do it from the side. Take the front wheel off and go as low as you can and support on a LOW jackstand. Most hoists will now clear. Make sure you put a jack or blocks under the trans if you are not pulling the trans with the engine. Last watch the exhaust manifold studs as the engine comes out as they wreck havoc on the heater AC box and a brake booster. Better yet, pull the bolts and leave the things in the engine bay.

 

I ran into the same problem. I have a buddy who built an extension style hoist. We can pull the legs and boom out to reach over the nose of the car as well as raised four wheel drives etc. Works very nicely. Just remember to extend the feet as well as the boom. I know from recently letting my new engine hit the ground when I forgot and it tipped over. Haste make waste. Too excited to get started. New oil pan later and Im back in business.

 

Thanks for the tips guys. I searched my area for A-frame hoist rentals but got nothing. Looks like I'll have to go in from the side. bigvette1 it sounds like you've done this with the tranny still attached. that's my plan. Is it feasible? How much swing will I need to account for and should I tie the engine to something to keep it from slamming into the side of the engine bay and wrecking my A/C lines?
MalibuVLX did your buddy modify an existing hoist or build something from scratch. The easiest thing may be to do what you suggested but I'm borrowing a buddy's hoist so I don't want to make any permanent changes to it.

 

I set my 2-ton cherry picker on 1 ton setting (it has extra long legs that extend under the car, set the front jack stands to their lowest settings to keep the car off the ground and still allow the cherry picker legs to clear the front suspension and come in from the side; driver's side in my case. I have one of those screw levelers that help with tilting the engine back and front. I did this alone with one hand on jack and one on the engine. Would sure help with a helper as I nicked the body when I bumped the side of the car. No body crack but gouged the paint and shows primer now.

 

Someone should YouTube a video of engine/trans removal if not done already. I have seen this question come up several times on the forum and I am sure it would be most helpful if done well.

 

is alot easier and safer to remove the tranny separate .you remove the tranny from below ,before you remove the engine .less mess from tranny fluid pouring out when you tilt the tailshaft down .less chance of the tail shaft hitting the windshield or body panels.you don't need to remove the hood .

 

Something to be aware of is the height of the car with the weight of the engine off the mounts. Something I found out as I nearly ran out of room with my overhead hoist. Way closer than I thought it would be!

 

as most have said, go at it from the side. i replaced my motor from the side with the front tire off. supported the trans on a jack. as i pulled the motor up and out, i also raised the trans a little bit just to keep it level as the car rose with less weight in it, and vice versa. also, i did this alone. not bad but a helper can be helpful
i've also put a motor/trans into these cars with this same crane. talk about a PITA. it would fill a book to describe the whole scene. never again.

 

i agree, from the side. i have also pulled the heads at times and it seemed to be slightly easier on the later c3's.

 

With the engine hanging from the hoist, jack up the rear end of the car as high as you can. If you have jack stands under the front end remove them.

 

Awesome advice ya'll. If anything I feel better that I'm not alone in this endeavor. I applaud you guys that did it by yourself. I'm don't trust myself enough for that. Going to give it a shot tomorrow. I'll take pics as i go. for better or worse.

 

Well, you could take the top surround and fenders off

 

Yep, pulled several both SBC and BBC. I looked at renting a hoist the first time and figured this way -- pull engine $40 rent and take it back, reinstall engine $40 rent and take it back, well looked around and wow, one for sale for $100. Well worth it and if you don't want it, sell it for a 100 and no hauling needed. Oh, go get an engine stand to mount the engine after pulling.

If you hook up the engine with a leveler just lift enough to clear motor and/or trans mounts and as you are lifting you change the angle so it clears and comes out at about a 30 deg angle. Then as you get high enough you straighten out and pull away from the car. Please take time and inspect all wires, lines and hoses are removed. BEST BET - have a buddy inspection help and USE A CAMERA on every part so there is a picture record for reconnection or assembly.

As far as removal I personally, pull all the accessories like AC, alternator, water pump, PS etc. This gives you some real clearance up front. This will let you pull without pulling the radiator if desired. But think about this, do you want to rebuild an engine and put it back in with a crud filled radiator?? And, if you pull the radiator before the engine the clearance is amazing. PIA but pull shroud and radiator together. You want to anyway to clean up that old yuk in the engine compartment and paint it all shiny and new.


As far as the exhaust manifolds go, I pull the bolts and they stay in the car and the engine slips right out between them. Here is the moral to this story on manifolds, have the engine swing or twist and then you scream loud as the exhaust studs gut the side of the AC box or hook on a something and pull that stuff with it. I know from sad experience having to rebuild the AC box - no more, they come off.

Oh, when you are doing this job if you get a scary quezy feeling - that is normal the first time as you wonder what the hell did I get into.