engine removal
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh Pa
engine removal
holy crap this is the biggest pain in the butt ever. i don't know how some of you take it out more than once. if anything ever happens to the engine after this where it needs to be removed i am going to just buy a new car. screw that. i have replaced several engines in many different types of cars but this one has by far been the worst. i don't think it helps that my tool selection sucks.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 334
Likes: 1
From: Fl
OMFG!!! Atlus, Ok..air force correct? I was stationed there back in 00-02.
Anyway. What problems are you encountering? It's pretty straight forward with the exception of the torque arm( if you are removing the trans with it).
I see you have a 96..not sure about those ones. Sorry.
Anyway. What problems are you encountering? It's pretty straight forward with the exception of the torque arm( if you are removing the trans with it).
I see you have a 96..not sure about those ones. Sorry.
Last edited by Wheels Up; May 5, 2005 at 09:26 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh Pa
yeah this place is the butthole of america. well the whole state is. i used to think new jersey was, but i was mistaken. yes i am in the air force. its pretty straight forward but damn there are some bolts that are just a bastard to get to. the accessory bracket was fun. and the driverside bell housing bolts are not fun. i think its cause i am trying to get away with not taking the whole car apart to get to some of the bolts. and we took the heads off to see if the cylinders were all tore up. only threw one rod!!! don't know why. but its getting new forged .030 over pistons, eagle rods, eagle cast steel crank and a cc304. 
should be even more fun to drive as soon as i get the friggin engine out and back together. 
should be even more fun to drive as soon as i get the friggin engine out and back together.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 334
Likes: 1
From: Fl
Who is doing your machine work? If you havent decided yet. The NAPA in Vernon, Texas does a hell of a job.
Threw a rod...in Altus..naw. Now where would you get enough room to get it that fast
.
Yeah. I may have the pleasure of working on a 99 here in about a week or so. He just wants a tune up, but I honestly dont think it would be worth my time & pain. He is offering me $150 to do it.
Offtopic:
I once made it back from Lawton to Altus in 17 minutes.
Not sure how long you have been there. But if you remember Mikes sports Grill( they have one in Lawton also) I used to help with the karakoe there(MRC entertainment). I worked in Trans( SP mechanic). My wife was OB/GYN.
You were stationed in McGuire also? I wasnt, but I lived & grew up in Jersey( I left when I was 18).
Threw a rod...in Altus..naw. Now where would you get enough room to get it that fast
. Yeah. I may have the pleasure of working on a 99 here in about a week or so. He just wants a tune up, but I honestly dont think it would be worth my time & pain. He is offering me $150 to do it.
Offtopic:
I once made it back from Lawton to Altus in 17 minutes.
Not sure how long you have been there. But if you remember Mikes sports Grill( they have one in Lawton also) I used to help with the karakoe there(MRC entertainment). I worked in Trans( SP mechanic). My wife was OB/GYN.
You were stationed in McGuire also? I wasnt, but I lived & grew up in Jersey( I left when I was 18).
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 550
Likes: 0
From: Hesperia California
I am there now. Can't get the *#&! motor mounts separated. I can't seem to get the pressure off to remove the main bolt. I have the engine on a hoist, and a floor jack under the bell housing. The six speed is under the car on a trans jack. Any sugestions?
This is the first time I have removed an engine with out my son. It is a pain by your self. He is in the Navy, but stationed at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma. He is a So. Calif. boy and does not like Oklahoma either!
This is the first time I have removed an engine with out my son. It is a pain by your self. He is in the Navy, but stationed at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma. He is a So. Calif. boy and does not like Oklahoma either!
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
If the motor is hooked to the hoist, lower it down to relive as much tension as possible. May have to play with the trans height also. I agree, they are a pain. Recently heped remove one: I want a new motor, but am in no hurry to pull it! I feel your pain. 
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Sounds like you're having the most trouble with the idiot cat brackets that further hinder access to the bellhousing bolts perhaps? Mine were rusted to the cats but a hot wrench solved that problem. Yes as you said a good tool selection is invaluable. A 1/4" drive 9/16" swivel socket and a long extension is a help with the one top bellhousing bolt once it's broken loose a bit. I think I got the other one from the top, with the intake already off. I didn't drop the rear of my trans (auto) but it would have been easier if I had. Now with the headers instead of all that stock crap, I think I could pull it in two hours or less. The C4s can be a challenge but I've done much worse cars and trucks. Good luck.
Pro
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 635
Likes: 6
From: New Jersey
PrOzac
I just replace my engine in my 86, and the way I did it was to pull the top of the motor first and then brackets and exhaust I pulled the driver side tire off and used a floor jack to hold the trans up till I got the engine out the weird thing about it was the two top trans bolts was out and by the looks of everything the car wasn't touch, I brought the car two months ago. When you put the engine back in LEAVE the motor mount off and this will give you a little more room to put the trans bolt in,after the trans is bolted raise the engine and slide the mounts in be careful raising the engine too high but you will have enough room to do the mounts,the hardest thing for me is the last bolt in the headers on passenger side. BTW don't be so hard on Jersey, I lived there all my life, and it can suck some time LOL
Randy
I just replace my engine in my 86, and the way I did it was to pull the top of the motor first and then brackets and exhaust I pulled the driver side tire off and used a floor jack to hold the trans up till I got the engine out the weird thing about it was the two top trans bolts was out and by the looks of everything the car wasn't touch, I brought the car two months ago. When you put the engine back in LEAVE the motor mount off and this will give you a little more room to put the trans bolt in,after the trans is bolted raise the engine and slide the mounts in be careful raising the engine too high but you will have enough room to do the mounts,the hardest thing for me is the last bolt in the headers on passenger side. BTW don't be so hard on Jersey, I lived there all my life, and it can suck some time LOL
Randy
