Who has pulled their motor?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 26,679
Likes: 17
From: This vette goes to 11 Milford MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05
Who has pulled their motor?
I am getting ready to swap in my 383 and I need to pull the old L98. For some background on me, I have swapped dozens of motors so I know what I am doing. My questions are:
Do I have to discharge the AC?
Can it be done with a crane style engine hoist (sig)or do I need a big overhead puller?
Can I leave the tranny in?
Can I pull the engine with the crank dampner installed?
Do I have to discharge the AC?
Can it be done with a crane style engine hoist (sig)or do I need a big overhead puller?
Can I leave the tranny in?
Can I pull the engine with the crank dampner installed?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 958
Likes: 1
From: SF Bay area, CA USA
Re: Who has pulled their motor? (Fastguy)
I removed the A/C compressor as it is in the way so I would tell you to plan on having the system discharged. I removed the pulley off the balancer but left the balancer on.
I rented an engine hoist from u-haul and was able to remove the engine without removing the hood. I just pulled the wheel off one side and slid the hoist in frm the side of the car.
I rented an engine hoist from u-haul and was able to remove the engine without removing the hood. I just pulled the wheel off one side and slid the hoist in frm the side of the car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 0
From: Puyallup Washington
Re: Who has pulled their motor? (Fastguy)
I left the transmission in place, the dampner will clear. Remove the wiper motor, it prevents damage to the cover and makes bolt and wire access much easier. A cherry picker hoist works fine, if you remove a tire as Weekend said.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 222
From: Ca.
Re: Who has pulled their motor? (Fastguy)
I didn't have to discharge the AC-it'll set off to the side enough. Ditto to above on the pull-just used my "cherry picker" and left the hood on. I did pull off the balancer-a little more room then. And yes-left the tranny in.
Only problem I had was on the install-car up on 4 jacks-lowering in the new engine......an inch away from the mounts and mating up to the tranny.....and got a 5.0 earthquake- :eek: :eek:
Only problem I had was on the install-car up on 4 jacks-lowering in the new engine......an inch away from the mounts and mating up to the tranny.....and got a 5.0 earthquake- :eek: :eek:
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 26,679
Likes: 17
From: This vette goes to 11 Milford MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05
Re: Who has pulled their motor? (drive it)
Thanks. I have access to an overhead electric hoist so I'll probably use that since its getting cold out there. Just wanted to make sure I could use the hoist if I had to. It was a PITA doing it on the 75, had to pull the tire and go over the fender.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Who has pulled their motor? (Fastguy)
Be sure to support the tranny..theres nothing to hold it up except the long support beam.I used a floor jack and a 2x4 piece of wood across the trans pan(auto).Be careful not to kink or dent the trans pan or the case.
It might even be wise to unbolt the trans and push it back a little bit to ease removing/dropping the engine back in the car later and then reinstalling the trans. when the engine is in.
Theres such little room with the tranny left in the stock place.
Aside from that its a pretty easy job..sometimes you can push the a/c to the side and get it out.
You may want to check one of the long black battery cables that goes to the starter while the engine is out..if its old,replace it now since youll have plenty of clearance.
If it helps,I was able to drop the engine back in with exhaust manifolds and the balancer on the engine with no problems.
Then added the balancer pulley and other misc front brackets later in the car.
Just needed 2 helpers to hold the wire harness out to the side to make things go easier.
:)
It might even be wise to unbolt the trans and push it back a little bit to ease removing/dropping the engine back in the car later and then reinstalling the trans. when the engine is in.
Theres such little room with the tranny left in the stock place.
Aside from that its a pretty easy job..sometimes you can push the a/c to the side and get it out.
You may want to check one of the long black battery cables that goes to the starter while the engine is out..if its old,replace it now since youll have plenty of clearance.
If it helps,I was able to drop the engine back in with exhaust manifolds and the balancer on the engine with no problems.
Then added the balancer pulley and other misc front brackets later in the car.
Just needed 2 helpers to hold the wire harness out to the side to make things go easier.
:)
Pro
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
From: Eagle IDAHO
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Who has pulled their motor? (Fastguy)
Did my 85 last Spring (solo) A/C compressor moved out of the way. Pulled radiator, balancer, left tranny in car since the bellhousing bolts were easily reached once the chain hoist was attached and engine was moveable. Exh manifolds came out with engine. All the Exh pipe to manifold bolts broke off. Pulled and replaced engine solo with minimal problems. Used a rented engine hoist from Yankee rental. Left hood on car. Pulled auto tranny and replaced it after a tranny shop tear down and inspection. Luckily they lent me a low-boy tranny jack for the replacement process. Don't know if I could have put it back without the tranny jack.
Engine was rebuilt and warmly modded by the guys at Grolens Performance Engines located at Hanscom AFB, Burlington, MA. They do a nice 350/350 for about $2500.
Engine was rebuilt and warmly modded by the guys at Grolens Performance Engines located at Hanscom AFB, Burlington, MA. They do a nice 350/350 for about $2500.
