Engine removal? After countless internet searches....

A friend of mine is removing his LS1 out of his 97. Engine is broke down, engine mounts are disconnected from block, torque tube is diconnected.
What is the next step to obtain the proper clearance between engine and torque tube to remove the engine?
My guess is the torque tube needs to come out
Sounds like you are going out through the top. I prefer to drop it but I use a lift so it's easier that way. I just ondo the whole cradle with the engine on it, disconnect everything and the torque tube, lower the engine and slide forward a little, then just raise the car.
If you are going through the top, after unbolting the torque tube, you have to either unbolt the motor mounts from the engine or loosen and lower the cradle with the lower motor mount bolts off. Assuming you have the radiator and fan out of the car and everything disconnected (you can slide the engine forward and remove the wiring harness and grounds from the back of the head and the bellhousing along with the Cam sensor, map sensor, Oil Pressure Sensor and Vacuum line to the brake booster) you still have to slide the engine forward quite a bit as you raise it. The shaft from the torque tube is probably 6-8 or so inches long. You need to clear it of course. The torque tube can flex up and down a bit but don't put too much pressure ont he shaft.
Also, the A/C pump is going to be a hassle either way. You can unbolt it and tie it up out of the way I'll also assume you already removed the starter, exhaust, all wiring, waterpump (more clearance), alternator and bracket, etc. The more you remove the easier it is to get sometimes.
There are tricks to it that you will learn for the next time!

ps: You do not need to remove the torque tube. And don't forget the sensor below the starter. It's a PITA.
Last edited by 78Vette-SA; Nov 19, 2005 at 08:12 AM.
A friend of mine is removing his LS1 out of his 97. Engine is broke down, engine mounts are disconnected from block, torque tube is diconnected.
What is the next step to obtain the proper clearance between engine and torque tube to remove the engine?
My guess is the torque tube needs to come out

i removed hood, radiator, power steering assembly, disconnected AC comp and left it loose, water pump, starter, clutch line, altenator, etc...
i unbolted tie rods and rack & pinion and moved it forward, to help with the crank pulley clearance
put car in the air and undo one end of the shock
unbolt the aluminum subframe from the main frame
lower the subframe as much as you can, the more the better
undo the bolts from the torque tube to the bell housing
remove bolts to motor mounts
hook up chain, pull forward off the spline, and yank her out
the most time consuming portion is removing all of accessories
once you pass that, it is actually easy to remove the engine from above
now stabbing it back will be another story
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts






i removed hood, radiator, power steering assembly, disconnected AC comp and left it loose, water pump, starter, clutch line, altenator, etc...
i unbolted tie rods and rack & pinion and moved it forward, to help with the crank pulley clearance
put car in the air and undo one end of the shock
unbolt the aluminum subframe from the main frame
lower the subframe as much as you can, the more the better
undo the bolts from the torque tube to the bell housing
remove bolts to motor mounts
hook up chain, pull forward off the spline, and yank her out
the most time consuming portion is removing all of accessories
once you pass that, it is actually easy to remove the engine from above
now stabbing it back will be another story



the sooner i get it back the better, before i start to forget stuff

Any updates/ troubles? I am in the process of removing all accessories taking tons o pics and writing a novel in the process...


i removed hood, radiator, power steering assembly, disconnected AC comp and left it loose, water pump, starter, clutch line, altenator, etc...
i unbolted tie rods and rack & pinion and moved it forward, to help with the crank pulley clearance
put car in the air and undo one end of the shock
unbolt the aluminum subframe from the main frame
lower the subframe as much as you can, the more the better
undo the bolts from the torque tube to the bell housing
remove bolts to motor mounts
hook up chain, pull forward off the spline, and yank her out
the most time consuming portion is removing all of accessories
once you pass that, it is actually easy to remove the engine from above
now stabbing it back will be another story
Sounds like you are going out through the top. I prefer to drop it but I use a lift so it's easier that way. I just ondo the whole cradle with the engine on it, disconnect everything and the torque tube, lower the engine and slide forward a little, then just raise the car.
If you are going through the top, after unbolting the torque tube, you have to either unbolt the motor mounts from the engine or loosen and lower the cradle with the lower motor mount bolts off. Assuming you have the radiator and fan out of the car and everything disconnected (you can slide the engine forward and remove the wiring harness and grounds from the back of the head and the bellhousing along with the Cam sensor, map sensor, Oil Pressure Sensor and Vacuum line to the brake booster) you still have to slide the engine forward quite a bit as you raise it. The shaft from the torque tube is probably 6-8 or so inches long. You need to clear it of course. The torque tube can flex up and down a bit but don't put too much pressure ont he shaft.
Also, the A/C pump is going to be a hassle either way. You can unbolt it and tie it up out of the way I'll also assume you already removed the starter, exhaust, all wiring, waterpump (more clearance), alternator and bracket, etc. The more you remove the easier it is to get sometimes.
There are tricks to it that you will learn for the next time!

ps: You do not need to remove the torque tube. And don't forget the sensor below the starter. It's a PITA.
He's right on! I did not have to remove my radiator, and the engine still slipped right out. I removed the torque tube plate to give the tube room to drop a little to negotiate the engine out but you don't have to remove the tube. The hardest part was clearing the intake at the firewall. Playing with a jack under the tranny to find the right angle for the picker is all that is needed. Remove all accessories including starter and bungy them out of the way. It was nice process.







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