Eninge removal top or bottom?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 277
Likes: 1
From: Springfield Missouri
Eninge removal top or bottom?
I am waiting for my 2 post lift now and i am wondering. I have a 85 C4 with an auto, now with my past z28 it was easy to go out the bottom but on a c4 which way is the best go out the top or bottom? I consulted the chevy repair manual and they talked about going out the top.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 277
Likes: 1
From: Springfield Missouri
when going from the bottom (on the camaro at least) unhook the cooling ect and you unbolt the k-member and drop tran and eingine down and lift the body up and roll the engine away. the usually build these cars that way in the factory i.e. the body goes down on the drive train
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
when going from the bottom (on the camaro at least) unhook the cooling ect and you unbolt the k-member and drop tran and eingine down and lift the body up and roll the engine away. the usually build these cars that way in the factory i.e. the body goes down on the drive train
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
BG 'bottom loaded' at birth.
'salvage' yard pro's terminology for engine/trans assy is a 'dropout', cause that's how it is done there.
low headroom in my shop precludes a car lift, 'cherry baby' is only method available there, bud has a lift and we've done a couple c4's 'down and out' of engine cradle/suspension/engine+trans...'deciding factor' IMHO is if cyl heads are coming off short block, then top pull is best...if heads are left on, brake line drip/bleed small pita that comes with dropout is def worthwhile (maybe consider modding the brake hose brackets to 'bolt-on' config if 'heart surgery' will be frequent)
'salvage' yard pro's terminology for engine/trans assy is a 'dropout', cause that's how it is done there.
low headroom in my shop precludes a car lift, 'cherry baby' is only method available there, bud has a lift and we've done a couple c4's 'down and out' of engine cradle/suspension/engine+trans...'deciding factor' IMHO is if cyl heads are coming off short block, then top pull is best...if heads are left on, brake line drip/bleed small pita that comes with dropout is def worthwhile (maybe consider modding the brake hose brackets to 'bolt-on' config if 'heart surgery' will be frequent)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 277
Likes: 1
From: Springfield Missouri
I really want to go out the bottom but i was held up b/c there was not a removal procedure in the service manual only a top out. I would like to hear more thoughts from people that have done both, thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
consulted the chevy repair manual and they talked about going out the top.
I dont know how youll ever get it out through the bottom
If you got enough room to raise the hood you have enough room to remove through the top.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 76
From: Santa Maria, CA
I pulled the engine out of my 85 last weekend. Used a cherry picker from the side. I got a Happy Hooker lift plate from TPiS. When pulling the motor first lift it enough to remove the motor mounts. Then lower the engine and slide off the transmission shaft. I had to buy a 9/16 universal socket to get some of the bell housing bolts. It wasn't a tough job.
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 0
From: Suwanee,Ga
To do what you want, lifting the car up on the two post lift [ hope it isn't Chinese???] you have to disconnect different stuff.
All wires, throttle, hydraulics if 6 spd, front brake lines, and cooling hoses.
The exhaust would need to be out,
C beam & Drive shaft Out, and the tail shaft supported
Disconnect the steering column from the rack.
Brackets beneath engine and fan shroud
There are four bolts that attach the entire front end to the frame
Close hood, hope you got everything, then lift the car.
You could drop the rear as well, C beam and drive shaft stay, brakes get disconnected.
Top is easier I believe. Need the Technique for putting it back in!!
TJM
I'm lucky, I have a fork lift very handy......
Last edited by TJM; Feb 3, 2011 at 12:47 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
When the C4 was built, it wasn't just the engine that went in from the bottom. It was the entire drivetrain, suspension, and the crossmember the engine sits on.
So, to replicate what the factor did you would need to build a tool the length of the car for all of the above to sit on. Since that's really not practical, you end up removing everything that you'd remove to pull the engine out the top and you also have to disconnect brake lines, steering lines, etc which means you do more work than was required.
There is zero reason to pull the engine out the bottom, it takes longer, and it results in performing tasks (ie brake and steering lines) you would otherwise avoid. Why take apart perfectly fine 26 year old parts when you don't have too? Look at it from a common sense perspective...if it was easier to remove it from the bottom, don't you think that every shop out there would do it that way? They would, but they don't and that's pretty telling.
So, to replicate what the factor did you would need to build a tool the length of the car for all of the above to sit on. Since that's really not practical, you end up removing everything that you'd remove to pull the engine out the top and you also have to disconnect brake lines, steering lines, etc which means you do more work than was required.
There is zero reason to pull the engine out the bottom, it takes longer, and it results in performing tasks (ie brake and steering lines) you would otherwise avoid. Why take apart perfectly fine 26 year old parts when you don't have too? Look at it from a common sense perspective...if it was easier to remove it from the bottom, don't you think that every shop out there would do it that way? They would, but they don't and that's pretty telling.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Forgot one minor detail.
The top A arms go over the frame rails to the mounts on the cradle so they have to be disconnected 1st to drop front cross member out with engine attached.
Also shocks mount to tabs on frame
The top A arms go over the frame rails to the mounts on the cradle so they have to be disconnected 1st to drop front cross member out with engine attached.
Also shocks mount to tabs on frame
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
we drove in the jy just before 1;00 pm, counter girl said 'the guys will get it right after lunch'...we walked out to watch, only thing already pulled was the alternator...2;00 pm we were driving home with an 87 vette engine/trans in the back...they only asked me if we wanted the exhaust pipes left long for stable sit in our truck bed before 'blue tipping' the exhaust, nothing else butchered...this was 'out the bottom'...both those guys looked under 25 yrs old but 'they' knew their sith.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 277
Likes: 1
From: Springfield Missouri
we drove in the jy just before 1;00 pm, counter girl said 'the guys will get it right after lunch'...we walked out to watch, only thing already pulled was the alternator...2;00 pm we were driving home with an 87 vette engine/trans in the back...they only asked me if we wanted the exhaust pipes left long for stable sit in our truck bed before 'blue tipping' the exhaust, nothing else butchered...this was 'out the bottom'...both those guys looked under 25 yrs old but 'they' knew their sith.
