Pulling motor
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Snohomish, WA. USA
Pulling motor
I have everything ready to go as far as pulling the motor & tranny in my '69. The problem is, when I put my cherry picker in front of the car, it doesn't have a long enough reach to get back to the block. It seemas as though coming in from the side would not work real well as I am pulling the engine & tranny together. How have you guys done this?
TIA
TIA
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,160
Likes: 3,965
From: Connecticut, USA
Re: Pulling motor (vette69)
I did this on Labor day this year. First you have to find a lift with a 5' boom. The foreign ones are about 4.5' and won't do it. Some guys pull the motor from the side but I always did it from the front. Use an engine tilter too- I pulled a 350 & TH400 from the front using a tilter. I separated the engine at the bellhousing and pulled it. In the past I also used a chain fall to pull an engine straight up. Then roll the car out from under it.
Gary
Gary
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Pulling motor (vette69)
I have the same problem so I drill an extra hole in the boom to move it out further. This might not be safe but I gave it a try and it worked. I lifted a bigblock and transmission in one piece. It was pushing things but I was carefull that the back of the lift didn't get too light.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
Re: Pulling motor (vette69)
Pulled it from the side, reininstalled it with the "picker" at an angle with the the legs straddling the RF wheel. just cleared the fenderwell. I had to wrestle with it though because my garage wasnt large enough to manuver the picker.at one point the fender cover slipped off and the flywheel caught the fender removing some paint off a beautiful metallic green finish :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad None of the less got the job done. shouldnt have trouble pulling it from the side if pulling it from the front dosent work.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas NV
Re: Pulling motor (vette69)
I did it from the side, motor first, then drop tranny, move it forward, and out the engine compartment, as 2 separate pieces. Chevy shop manual instructs Corvette engine/tranny removal as 2 separate parts.
Had to have the cherry picker at the side, though.
Had to have the cherry picker at the side, though.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Re: Pulling motor (vette69)
Another side guy. I use a load leveler and try to gett he picker just a little off center to the front of the engine that way when the engine breaks free of the bellhousing is moves away from it just enough to clear the input shaft. When I reintall I center the engine so it looks like it will mate with the bellhousing then use a come-a-long to pull the engine toward the front of the car. Then I let the engine down then back the come-a-long off allowing the engines weight to help force the bellhousing and engine to mate just abov the point where the motor mounts slide inot place. Once the engine and bellhousing mate, I let the engine down and insert the engine mount bolts. Have done it a few times by myself.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Re: Pulling motor (vette69)
vette69,
I pulled my motor and transmission on my 1980 a few weeks ago. I had never removed an engine before. To give my self more room (also the radiator support was badly rusted) I had removed radiator, radiator support, and A/C condensor. I also removed the exhaust manifolds. I am sure someone who was more experienced would not have had to remove as much stuff, but like I said this was my first time.
Like most of the posts above, I placed the cherry picker off to the side (passenger in my case). I also removed the front passenger side tire - supporting the frame with a jackstand. You have a lot more room to maneuver without the tire in the way. The use of a load leveler was very helpful. I used an AC Delco cherry picker and leveler as it has quite a long reach.
I pulled my motor and transmission on my 1980 a few weeks ago. I had never removed an engine before. To give my self more room (also the radiator support was badly rusted) I had removed radiator, radiator support, and A/C condensor. I also removed the exhaust manifolds. I am sure someone who was more experienced would not have had to remove as much stuff, but like I said this was my first time.
Like most of the posts above, I placed the cherry picker off to the side (passenger in my case). I also removed the front passenger side tire - supporting the frame with a jackstand. You have a lot more room to maneuver without the tire in the way. The use of a load leveler was very helpful. I used an AC Delco cherry picker and leveler as it has quite a long reach.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Snohomish, WA. USA
Re: Pulling motor (mapman)
Thanks. I too have the raditor support removed and the motor torn down to the block (heads & intake removed) because I am cramped for headroom in my garage. I really would like to pull the engine & tranny together.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Re: Pulling motor (vette69)
vette69,
Also, I did the lift outside. My garage seemed too cramped. I drained the automatic transmission fluid to minimize the mess - some people use plugs for the end of the transmission or plastic bags to catch AT fluid. The transmission crossmember will catch the driveline but if you move the car (outside to inside the garage) then you need to support the driveline to keep the front U-Joint from "clunking" on the crossmember as you push the car.
Also, I did the lift outside. My garage seemed too cramped. I drained the automatic transmission fluid to minimize the mess - some people use plugs for the end of the transmission or plastic bags to catch AT fluid. The transmission crossmember will catch the driveline but if you move the car (outside to inside the garage) then you need to support the driveline to keep the front U-Joint from "clunking" on the crossmember as you push the car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 3
From: Greensboro NC
Re: Pulling motor (mapman)
vette69,
I also removed the front passenger side tire - supporting the frame with a jackstand. You have a lot more room to maneuver without the tire in the way.
I also removed the front passenger side tire - supporting the frame with a jackstand. You have a lot more room to maneuver without the tire in the way.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,416
Likes: 1
From: NC,USA
Re: Pulling motor (ksbunting)
a load leveler is a beastie that connects to your hook on the cherry picker, it has a center point where the weight is distributed... you have a crank on it so you can "tilt" the engine front or back.
Very handy!
When i pulled the engine, i went from the passanger side at an angle, i left the tranny attatched... it worked great!
ZD
Very handy!
When i pulled the engine, i went from the passanger side at an angle, i left the tranny attatched... it worked great!
ZD
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Snohomish, WA. USA
Re: Pulling motor (ksbunting)
It looks like I will have to try removing the wheel & tire. Straddling it with my cherry picker, I still can't reach the center of the block.
A load leveler is a bar with a threaded rod through it that allows you to tilt the motor as you pull it. Do a search on ebay for engine leveler and you should be able to see what they are. They make pulling motors much easier. (Except when your cherry picker doesn't reach the motor).
A load leveler is a bar with a threaded rod through it that allows you to tilt the motor as you pull it. Do a search on ebay for engine leveler and you should be able to see what they are. They make pulling motors much easier. (Except when your cherry picker doesn't reach the motor).
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,040
Likes: 672
From: FL
Re: Pulling motor (vette69)
Keep calling rental places.
When I did mine, I found a picker with a 6' boom at rental place that specialized in construction type equipment. It was also half the price of the local place that had the short 5' version next to their picnic tables. :rolleyes:
The longer boom let me go in from the front which made the job very easy.
When I did mine, I found a picker with a 6' boom at rental place that specialized in construction type equipment. It was also half the price of the local place that had the short 5' version next to their picnic tables. :rolleyes:
The longer boom let me go in from the front which made the job very easy.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Snohomish, WA. USA
Re: Pulling motor (SteveG75)
Thanks for all the input. I hate renting anything, but I sure would like to pull it straight out the front. I think I will get a piece of rectangular tubing and making a longer boom for my cherry picker. Probably cheaper than renting one anyway.