C4 Engine Pull

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Jul 22, 2012 | 03:05 PM

elkprairie

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C4 Engine Pull

I have an 84 and want to rebuild the engine. Has anyone pulled an engine from a C4 without removing the hood?

Jul 22, 2012 | 03:17 PM

weaselbeak

Racer

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 327

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From: se iowa

People do it all the time, it's the easiest way IMO. Take it out from the side with an engine hoist.

Jul 22, 2012 | 03:45 PM

John A. Marker

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 5,107

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From: Dublin CA

Yes, pull it from the side. Just a heads up....the bolts to the trans/block are a PITA to get to.

Also, label every wire, hose and bolt that you remove. Take a few pictures and make drawings. This will save you major headaches when you go to put it back together. If you think you can remember were it all goes......you will be back here begging for help.

Good luck on your project.

Jul 22, 2012 | 04:44 PM

383vett

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From: moraga ca

Approximately 15+ times here.

Jul 22, 2012 | 05:22 PM

elkprairie

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Thanks for the responses. I know the value of taking pictures during a project. I am going to replace the heads, cam, and install headers when done.

Jul 22, 2012 | 08:53 PM

VetteMed

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Joined: Aug 2005

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From: Merritt Island, FL

be sure to keep your chains short, so that you can lift the motor high enough to clear the engine bay, but not have the arm of the crane hit the hood.

Jul 23, 2012 | 04:23 PM

ScaryFast

Safety Car

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 4,871

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From: Detroit's West Side MI

For you guys who have done it with the ZF6, do you need to unbolt the C beam and propeller shaft and push the trans back? I usually pull from the front and take the trans with it, but due to space I will be pulling from the side this time. I'm worried about getting enough space to shift it forward to clear the input shaft, without putting a moment on it...

Jul 23, 2012 | 07:12 PM

cadmaniac

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 810

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From: Alva Florida

I usually drop the trans since there is no corssmember to support it.

I actually use a chain hoist mounted to a chain around a girder in my attic. I pull the car under the chain hoist, pull the engine out high enough to put it over the windshield, close the hood and push the car out from under it. No engine puller, and I never have to do more than attach the hoist to the chain in 1 minute or less.

A friend had done it and I liked the idea.

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Jul 23, 2012 | 11:27 PM

martymcfly

Instructor

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 223

Likes: 5

here is a tip...

remove the wiper motor. When you smash it with the motor, that board is expensive and hard to find.

Jul 24, 2012 | 12:31 AM

#10

JrRifleCoach

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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.

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I pull the dist and the wiper motor cover.
Takes a few extra minutes but its worth the time savings later

:cheers;

Jul 25, 2012 | 02:58 PM

#11

ScaryFast

Safety Car

Joined: Jul 2001

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From: Detroit's West Side MI

I don't have a wiper motor...wipers scratch lexan.

I wish I had known they were hard to find, I wouldn't have thrown it away I would have paid it forward.

Thanks for the tips. Guess I'll drop the trans. I just hate messing around with the C beam. Who doesn't?

Jul 25, 2012 | 04:04 PM

#12

nutz4c4

Melting Slicks

Joined: Nov 2005

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From: WAY UPSTATE NY

Not sure if it would work on a cross fire but for L98 and LT the Happy Hooker is the best $50 bucks you will ever spend...

Jul 25, 2012 | 04:18 PM

#13

96GS#007

Race Director

Joined: Apr 2000

Posts: 15,344

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From: Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutz4c4

Not sure if it would work on a cross fire but for L98 and LT the Happy Hooker is the best $50 bucks you will ever spend...

Jul 25, 2012 | 05:24 PM

#14

Team Owner

Joined: Dec 2000

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From: Phila., PA burbs

Another happy "happy hooker" user

Jul 25, 2012 | 05:27 PM

#15

Kubs

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From: Akron Ohio

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Anyone know if the Happy Hooker will work for a Carb style intake? Those bolts for the fuel rails are small, but I guess it holds the engine OK?

Jul 25, 2012 | 05:37 PM

#16

illenema

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Joined: Oct 2007

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From: KB7TIF Ville NV

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubs

Anyone know if the Happy Hooker will work for a Carb style intake? Those bolts for the fuel rails are small, but I guess it holds the engine OK?

yes the bolts hold well, Took mine out with trans still attached and installed with trans still attached, Engine and trans clear perfectly, happy hooker is a great tool for you, I bent the ring on it a bit.

Jul 27, 2012 | 03:43 PM

#17

elkprairie

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Thanks again to everyone who replied with tips and especially pictures. How far up do I need to put the car on jackstands to get to the transmission for unbolting?

Oct 24, 2012 | 09:10 PM

#18

elkprairie

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Any tips on getting the top transmission bellhousing bolts out?

Oct 25, 2012 | 07:46 PM

#19

MK 82

Melting Slicks

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 3,286

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From: Palm Beach

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkprairie

Any tips on getting the top transmission bellhousing bolts out?

Universal socket and looooong extension. I have pulled engine and tranny together.

Oct 26, 2012 | 12:07 AM

#20

mtwoolford

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jan 2009

Posts: 3,482

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From: folsom california

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScaryFast

I supported the ZF on a jackstand; unbolted the transmission to bellhousing bolts and pulled the engine / bellhousing as a unit; cleared the input shift without problem. to gain clearance, the front of the engine was pretty much stripped down to the block; don't know if removing all that was necessary. probably not.

pulled the engine from the side with very little clearances to roll the hoist around.. did have the intake and heads off. wasn't hard.

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