Engine Removal
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Winnetka CA
Engine Removal
This weekend I am hopefully going to begin removing the engine from my 87 to swap it with a zz4. I have never pulled the engine from a vette, so any suggestions or tips on the best way to pull the engine?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 1
From: Green Bay WI
Re: Engine Removal (amswak)
Assuming you have the big tools (cherry picker, lift, engine stand), you'll need a vast assortment of ratchets, wrenches, extensions, etc. You'll also need torque wrenches, etc for putting everything back together.
Do yourself a favor and get a digital camera so you can document every step.
Invest in some zip-loc sandwich bags and masking tape so you can store/label all the bolts/washers/connectors, etc that you'll remove.
Purchase a healthy supply of paper towels to wipe up radiator fluid with.
Purchase a helms service manual for your year (www.helminc.com) and read each section mentioned for engine assembly removal a couple of times.
Take your time and work safe - it's not a hard job, just time consuming.
Good luck! :cheers:
Do yourself a favor and get a digital camera so you can document every step.
Invest in some zip-loc sandwich bags and masking tape so you can store/label all the bolts/washers/connectors, etc that you'll remove.
Purchase a healthy supply of paper towels to wipe up radiator fluid with.
Purchase a helms service manual for your year (www.helminc.com) and read each section mentioned for engine assembly removal a couple of times.
Take your time and work safe - it's not a hard job, just time consuming.
Good luck! :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Re: Engine Removal (cprgmr)
Assuming you have the big tools (cherry picker, lift, engine stand), you'll need a vast assortment of ratchets, wrenches, extensions, etc. You'll also need torque wrenches, etc for putting everything back together.
Do yourself a favor and get a digital camera so you can document every step.
Invest in some zip-loc sandwich bags and masking tape so you can store/label all the bolts/washers/connectors, etc that you'll remove.
Purchase a healthy supply of paper towels to wipe up radiator fluid with.
Purchase a helms service manual for your year (www.helminc.com) and read each section mentioned for engine assembly removal a couple of times.
Take your time and work safe - it's not a hard job, just time consuming.
Good luck! :cheers:
Do yourself a favor and get a digital camera so you can document every step.
Invest in some zip-loc sandwich bags and masking tape so you can store/label all the bolts/washers/connectors, etc that you'll remove.
Purchase a healthy supply of paper towels to wipe up radiator fluid with.
Purchase a helms service manual for your year (www.helminc.com) and read each section mentioned for engine assembly removal a couple of times.
Take your time and work safe - it's not a hard job, just time consuming.
Good luck! :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 1
From: Green Bay WI
Re: Engine Removal (amswak)
I only have a cherry picker, is this still a feasable project without a lift or engine stand? lol, the closest I have to a lift is a floor jack...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Winnetka CA
Re: Engine Removal (cprgmr)
I wasnt able to get to work on the car last weekend. Will I have to pull the hood, radiator and all off or is there a way to avoid doing so? Also, is it possible to pull the engine and tranny out together or are there too many obstacles in the way? The transmission is going to a performance rebuild shop, so it also has to come out.
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,655
Likes: 24
From: Charleston SC
Re: Engine Removal (amswak)
I wasnt able to get to work on the car last weekend. Will I have to pull the hood, radiator and all off or is there a way to avoid doing so? Also, is it possible to pull the engine and tranny out together or are there too many obstacles in the way? The transmission is going to a performance rebuild shop, so it also has to come out.
This is not a good photo but it may help.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 17,101
Likes: 4
From: No more yankee my wankee, the Donger is tired!
Re: Engine Removal (amswak)
I wasnt able to get to work on the car last weekend. Will I have to pull the hood, radiator and all off or is there a way to avoid doing so? Also, is it possible to pull the engine and tranny out together or are there too many obstacles in the way? The transmission is going to a performance rebuild shop, so it also has to come out.
http://jef2577.tripod.com/index.html
Drop the tranny and driveshaft out. I suggest pulling the bellhousing and flywheel/flexplate as well just to make the engine a bit more easier to manage when on the hoist, plus it 'll give you a little more clearance from the the firewall.
No need to pull the hood or the radiator.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 844
Likes: 0
From: Cape Cod Ma
Re: Engine Removal (Jeffvette)
Its not that bad. Although I didn't keep any emmisions. So what I think is the easiest way of doing this is, lable everything( don't trust friends do it yourself and taking pics is helpfull). Keep track of all the bolts(lable) Unbolt intake and everything else around the engine. Tie the AC comp. out of the way. Once everything is unbolted take it out of the side of the car. I took the front tire's off to do this. I don't think you have to but its easyer to get to all the stuff too. If you have common sence you can do it in a long day or weekend, and it is not that bad. Unless in my case somone was there before and striped or overtightend all the bolts. I didn't use no manualls just labled everything with duct-tape and a marker. And put all the bots for the assesories in differen't bage, labled. :cheers: Good luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Re: Engine Removal (amswak)
I wasnt able to get to work on the car last weekend. Will I have to pull the hood, radiator and all off or is there a way to avoid doing so? Also, is it possible to pull the engine and tranny out together or are there too many obstacles in the way? The transmission is going to a performance rebuild shop, so it also has to come out.
No need to remove the hood, just work from the side of the car.
You can leave the radiator in, but since most of the coolant will be out anyway and it'll just be sitting there, why not just lift it out. Prevents the possibiity of it getting hit and damaged.
Be sure to remove the windshield wiper motor, it's easily damaged.
Jake
[Modified by JAKE, 5:51 PM 5/17/2004]
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
Re: Engine Removal (Jeffvette)
Drop the tranny and driveshaft out. I suggest pulling the bellhousing and flywheel/flexplate as well just to make the engine a bit more easier to manage when on the hoist, plus it 'll give you a little more clearance from the the firewall.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 17,101
Likes: 4
From: No more yankee my wankee, the Donger is tired!
Re: Engine Removal (Corvette Kid NC)
I just did an engine R&R. Absolutely no reason to remove the transmission. especially with an automatic. Support it with your floor jack before you remove the last couple of bellhousing bolts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Re: Engine Removal (Jeffvette)
I just did an engine R&R. Absolutely no reason to remove the transmission. especially with an automatic. Support it with your floor jack before you remove the last couple of bellhousing bolts.
He stated the tranny is coming out for work as well. Break it up into two seperate jobs. It's easier.
He stated the tranny is coming out for work as well. Break it up into two seperate jobs. It's easier.
Jake
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,655
Likes: 24
From: Charleston SC
Re: Engine Removal (amswak)
One thing I have found on the C4s is removing the motor mounts from the block and sliding them out (Once the motor is supported by the lift) helps prevent the wiper motor from being damaged. It really gives you the extra clearance needed to get the motor out and it only takes about five min. (Three bolts each side)
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
Re: Engine Removal (Jeffvette)
I just did an engine R&R. Absolutely no reason to remove the transmission. especially with an automatic. Support it with your floor jack before you remove the last couple of bellhousing bolts.
He stated the tranny is coming out for work as well. Break it up into two seperate jobs. It's easier.
He stated the tranny is coming out for work as well. Break it up into two seperate jobs. It's easier.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,270
Likes: 26
From: Winchester VA
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Engine Removal (amswak)
A little thing that happened to me. When you raise the front onto jack stands, check and make sure the the cherry picker's boom can be centered on the motor. My jack stand ended up EXACTLY where the cherry picker front leg needed to be.
The main problem was that I had my floor jack supporting the tranny at the time and no other way to lift the car to move the jack stand. I ended up lifting the car with the cherry picker strapped to the front cross member. A real PIA at an inoppurtune time.
Probably a one in million thing but will only take you a few seconds to check.
The main problem was that I had my floor jack supporting the tranny at the time and no other way to lift the car to move the jack stand. I ended up lifting the car with the cherry picker strapped to the front cross member. A real PIA at an inoppurtune time.
Probably a one in million thing but will only take you a few seconds to check.
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
Re: Engine Removal (RainDelay)
A little thing that happened to me. When you raise the front onto jack stands, check and make sure the the cherry picker's boom can be centered on the motor. My jack stand ended up EXACTLY where the cherry picker front leg needed to be.
The main problem was that I had my floor jack supporting the tranny at the time and no other way to lift the car to move the jack stand. I ended up lifting the car with the cherry picker strapped to the front cross member. A real PIA at an inoppurtune time.
Probably a one in million thing but will only take you a few seconds to check.
The main problem was that I had my floor jack supporting the tranny at the time and no other way to lift the car to move the jack stand. I ended up lifting the car with the cherry picker strapped to the front cross member. A real PIA at an inoppurtune time.
Probably a one in million thing but will only take you a few seconds to check.