Engine swap without a lift. How difficult is it?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 34,479
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From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Engine swap without a lift. How difficult is it?
I'm considering an engine swap in my C5. It's an auto. I do not have a lift. Am I kidding myself thinking this can be done with typical home/diy tools?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I swapped an engine in my street rod without a lift but I removed everything forward of the firewall for other work I was doing. However it was probably much easier than taking apart the nose of a Vette. You will also still need to access a cherry picker to lift the motor. You should at least have the car on jackstands so you can get to things underneath you'll have to disconnect.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 34,479
Likes: 532
From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
I have lots of jack stands, I can borrow a cherry picker. I've got a forklift (5000#) and a smaller electric one (2000#). But I have no way to lift the car off like is the proper way to do the job. My floor won't support a lift, not a 2 post anyway. So buying one is out for now. I can raise the car some, but going out the bottom is probably not going to happen. There's a vid online of a guy taking one out the top, but that doesn't look fun either.
Most show the thing coming out with the tranny/rear attached, removing EVERYthing. I would like to think it could be done with just the motor coming out, but maybe I'm mistaken on that. Seems people remove trannys without pulling the motor, why does it need the tranny removed to get the motor out.
Most show the thing coming out with the tranny/rear attached, removing EVERYthing. I would like to think it could be done with just the motor coming out, but maybe I'm mistaken on that. Seems people remove trannys without pulling the motor, why does it need the tranny removed to get the motor out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 23
From: Anaheim CA
Most show the thing coming out with the tranny/rear attached, removing EVERYthing. I would like to think it could be done with just the motor coming out, but maybe I'm mistaken on that. Seems people remove trannys without pulling the motor, why does it need the tranny removed to get the motor out.
It's a bit like trying to remove the radio bezel without removing (or at least unbolting) the console first.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Here is a write-up I did:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ring-jack.html
My whole project:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-myself-3.html
Thanks,Matt
661-406-7516 (Call or text)
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 34,479
Likes: 532
From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Got it Lee. I just went and looked at one that was disassembled just minutes ago, but it also had the entire front clip removed so getting the engine out of a wreck was not like in a car that's still in one piece.
It so happens I just returned from buying the Headers, x pipe and engine. The engine would need a little work before going in, and some looking at. It's supposed to have a number of mods already (out of a salvage). The damper is damaged from impacting the rack, so that needs changed. Looks like it could have used it before actually. So while I may not take on the project even this summer yet, I have the main stuff here for it and it WILL happen. For all I know, I may end up doing a 6 speed conversion at the same time. Looks like that would be the time to do it. I've got that more or less lined up to buy the stuff for one of them as well.
Thanks Matt, I'll be keeping your number handy! I'll look at your project later. Right now, I'm gonna go unload an engine!
It so happens I just returned from buying the Headers, x pipe and engine. The engine would need a little work before going in, and some looking at. It's supposed to have a number of mods already (out of a salvage). The damper is damaged from impacting the rack, so that needs changed. Looks like it could have used it before actually. So while I may not take on the project even this summer yet, I have the main stuff here for it and it WILL happen. For all I know, I may end up doing a 6 speed conversion at the same time. Looks like that would be the time to do it. I've got that more or less lined up to buy the stuff for one of them as well.
I have done it a couple of times, it is fairly easy believe it or not.
Here is a write-up I did:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ring-jack.html
My whole project:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-myself-3.html
Thanks,Matt
661-406-7516 (Call or text)
Here is a write-up I did:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ring-jack.html
My whole project:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-myself-3.html
Thanks,Matt
661-406-7516 (Call or text)
Thanks Matt, I'll be keeping your number handy! I'll look at your project later. Right now, I'm gonna go unload an engine!
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 34,479
Likes: 532
From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Initially I was expecting this to be a job for next year. You guys have me thinking this really won't be too bad. My car is actually running perfect right now so this motor swap is going to be just for fun. Of course if doing it wouldn't be fun, it might be a while. Having just had the cradle lowered and the rack out 2 weeks ago for a balancer swap, I sorta have an idea what to expect. This looks like it wouldn't be such a bad deal, though a little more stuff would need removed. I may wait till I've got my 6 speed setup to go in, I don't know.
Thanks again for all the info.
Thanks again for all the info.