How long did it take you guys to pull the engine out of your car for the first time. I'm just kind of curious if the is a weekend project or if it's going to take me a bit longer. Does anybody have any tips for a possible first time engine puller(engine gets diagnosed tonight).

 

If you have all the tools you will need, especially an engine hoist you should definetly be able to pull it in a weekend. I can't say i have ever pulled the engine out of a vette before but i have two other cars, a jetta and a 67 belvedere GTX and it was easily done in a weekend. Others i am sure will chime in but it will probably be in your advantage to remove the hood. We did on the GTX and that opens up the traditional way. Good Luck.

 

I'm helping a friend pull the motor out of his 95 Vette this weekend, hoping to get it out and on the stand in one day...

 

You will need a digital camera - Pics pics and more pics. I have gone back to many of my pics to see where or how all the wires, bolts etc go back together.

It is much easier to take out then put in!!!

Get large freezer bags so that as you take apart - you can classify and keep bolts/nuts together with parts. Oh, don't forget to mark the bags what/where the parts will go.



[Modified by 85vet, 12:01 PM 4/4/2003]

 

It took me, 1-person, @ 8 hours total to pull my 85 engine @ 3-weeks ago.

 

if this is your 1st time, and you dont have knowledgable help, I wouldnt put a time limit on it.

I would be more certain to make sure that all loose parts are properly labled and that you pay attention to areas that could cause trouble during re-install.

 

Agreed, after taking som digital pics of the intact engine, I got a box of ZIP LOCK bags and a sharpie and wrote the spot where the bolts came from, like passenger side plenum, then a separate bag for driver side plenum etc.

I then took duct tape and identified all vacuum, lines and sensors and wrote the info on the duct tape.

 

Took me a total of about 5 hours to pull it, and about 6 to reinstall...then again, I've done it once or twice before. The Ziploc idea is a good one, and one I use myself. FYI, when I pulled mine, I left all of the accessories on the front of the motor except for the A/C compressor. I know the LT1s have a different accessory configuration than the L98, however. And, just in case you weren't sure or hadn't heard, you CAN pull the motor without removing the hood. For those L98 folks out there looking to pull a motor, one word of warning regarding fuel lines. If you pull the motor with more than about 1/2 tank of gas, you're going to need to either plug or cap the ends of the fuel lines where they connect to the fuel rails. On the L98's, the fuel rail connectors are level with the mid-height point on the tank. In other words, you will get fuel constantly spilling out of the fuel lines unless you have less than 1/2 tank.

 

Dont forget you do not have a transmision cross member so you must come up with a way to hold up the tranny. I learned this when I pulled out the rear end and it all drooped to the rear :bb The distributor hitting the firewall stopped the rearward pivot. It took a floor jack and a stack of 2x4 blocks under the tailshaft to level it off untill I put the housing back in. :seeya

 

I haven't tried it leaving the transmission in. I always pull the trans when I have to pull the motor.

 

Thats weird. I had a full tank when I pulled mine and no more than a dribble came out of the fuel lines. Then again my driveway is on a very slight decline, so maybe that helped.

 

Scorp, maybe that's a sign it's time to change the filter. :lol: Sorry, too good of an opening.

RACE ON!!!

 

took me 6 hours to pull mine. first time i ever pulled a vette engine. biggest pia was getting the factory headers loose from the exhaust..
i would suggest pulling the engine and trans together.. also spend $40 at your local parts store for an engine leveler.
the hoods so easy to remove , i personally wouldnt dream of not taking it off for an engine swing.

 

First time I pulled mine I had a friend that had done it before, but we took my motor out and put a new one in its place over the weekend starting around 8pm Friday night and finishing Saturday night late.

I can get one out by myself now in about 8 hours. About 3 hours to pull the tranny and 5 to get the rest out.

 

You will have guys on both sides of the fence on this one. I can't imagine adding the extra work and needing at least two of your fiends over to remove the hood plus getting it all lines back up when you are done.

Remove the gas cap prior to disconnecting any fuel lines. What you experienced was the same effect you get from a siphon. Take the gas cap off, breaks the vacuum, stops the flow. I usually just pull off the fuel rail and bend it over to the side and leave the lines connected though.

 

My mechanic said he could get one out in no time...not too sure what that means, but he is a mechanic for a daily job.

The machinist I'm using to check things over with said it'll be ready to be put back in the car in a week! I almost feel like doing it now to get it out of the way( I have an oil consumption and blowing oil out the dipstick tube under wot issue in case you we're wondering) :crazy:


[Modified by JD 90 383, 11:34 PM 4/5/2003]

 

5 hours and a 12 pack of beer........by myself...i left the hood on and the transmission in......pretty easy compared to some cars....... lining the engine and trans up on reassembly is another story :rant:

 

MN,

not too bad at all, pulled one out in about 3 hours. get it up high enough to get the torque arm off and unbolt the drive shaft u joint bolts, slide drive shaft out. the torque arm bolt are a real treat but not impossible (beam plates or fabbed plates with the nuts welded on top are nice for quick install and uninstall for future reference) make sure tranny is supported. after that, remove shifter **** on shift stick, and then make sure all cables and sensor wires are disconnected from tranny. loosen the two nuts under the frame which hold the motor mounts and let jack holding tranny down slowly until shift lever comes through center console in car. remove 5 bolts holding tranny to bell housing, and slide tranny back out of motor. you will likely loose some tranny fluid here through the tail shaft housing, have a oil drain bucket readily available. with tranny out, go over all wiring and grounds connected to the motor, and hoses, brackets holding hoses, and power steering equipment once all these are unfastened, the motor is ready to be pulled. i remove the hood to get the hoist over the motor and a load leveler to help the bell housing clear, removing the bellhousing and clutch and flywheel will greatly simplify the removal and is pretty much a must for reinstalling the motor. other then that its all common sense, of course the exhaust is removed and of course the negative battery cable is disconnected :jester , but those are the major steps involved and good way to go about handling them! good luck with it and please update us on the turbo setup and whats going on!

Chris

 

Well guys, I spent about 7 hours and I had to stop because i didn't have the hoist yet. I believe it's ready to be yanked out, I left the tranny on and we'll see. I was taking my sweet time about everything and kept haveing to run to the bench for new tools every two minutes. If I had done it before it would have taken me quiet a bit less. Well, it's a learning experience, but it's not over yet, I got the hoist yesterday and a chain today. I hope it comes out nice and simple. Any tips on how to balance and engine and tranny togther??? where to put the bolts maybe?

 

The pull is the easiest part, just have someone jacking up the engine when someone else is guiding it out and looking to see if you forgot to unhook everything. I have faith in you, you got the turbo in... you can get the motor out :thumbs: