Help? Engine Removal without a lift?

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Jan 25, 2006 | 05:41 PM

Corvette1221

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Burning Brakes

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Help? Engine Removal without a lift?

A friend of mine was reading a book that said you need to lift the car and remove the entire drive train in order to remove the engine from the car.

Question. If you don't have a lift, can the engine be removed without removing the transmission and drive train?

Anybody out there replace the engine in their vette?

I was thinking of buying a engine and putting it in myself. Hope somebody has done the same.

Jan 25, 2006 | 06:15 PM

SpeedyD

Melting Slicks

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From: Watertown CT

I've seen pics of guys pulling these from the top, but most seem to agree that just dropping the cradle is the easier way. I wouldn't think that you need a lift to drop the engine out, just a really good and tall pair of jackstands. I've done this before, granted it was on a v6 Mazda 6, but I have these great Snap On jackstands that go way up. I'm assuming that when you said lift, you meant like a car lift, not an engine lift. Engine lift will basically be a must. But I would think as long as you have a pretty big garage and good jackstands, a couple good friends, you'll be all set! Good Luck!!

Jan 25, 2006 | 11:02 PM

Corvette1221

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Burning Brakes

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedyD

Thanks for your reply. yes you are right, I was referring to a car lift. I have a engine lift. My friend was reading this book about working on corvettes and we got in this debate. He insisted that the only way, acccording to the book he was reading was to take the engine out of the car was to take the entire drive train out when it is up on a lift Well, I too have taken engines out of other cars. So, though it may be easier if you a car lift, it still must be possible to do it the old fashioned way right? Even though I told him that I had done other cars, he kept on insisting that it was not possible from what he had read. Well, I have actually worked on cars and replaced engines. But that didnt convince him.

He is a smart guy, so it got me thinking, perhaps, with all this experience on the forum someone must have done it if it is possible.

So I was curious if anyone had lifted the engine out of a C5 with a cherry picker?

I had planned on buying a spare engine, and since I do most of the work myself, I would like to know ahead of time if it can be done without a car lift. Anyone do this?

Jan 25, 2006 | 11:08 PM

JoeyG

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From: St. Joseph MO

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search for "phil97svt", he had posted pics of dropping in his motor with a cherry picker

Jan 25, 2006 | 11:16 PM

Cajundude

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From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!

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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12

I just did it this past weekend. You don't need a lift. I'll do a write up after the install of the new one. Look for it in the next week or two.

Jan 25, 2006 | 11:28 PM

Corvette1221

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Burning Brakes

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajundude

I just did it this past weekend. You don't need a lift. I'll do a write up after the install of the new one. Look for it in the next week or two.

Thanks, yea, I would be curious how you did it. This is great, I knew someone had done it.

Let me know how it goes!

Jan 26, 2006 | 11:08 AM

lost

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From: Spring Tx

Can be done from the top, but actually requires more work. My s-n-l has done one at his shop. Car still has to be partially raised, hood removed, torque tube disconnected, radiator, fans and all accessories removed, exhaust manifold or headers disconnected.He admitted it took two of his teardown men the better part of a day to get the motor out.I understand these two did it in a couple of hours by the book.

Jan 26, 2006 | 11:13 AM

Cajundude

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From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!

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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12

I've never done it before and it took me from morning to lunch. You don't have to pull the fans and radiator, you don't have to pull the torque tube (although mine was pulled for a gear change) and I heard you don't have to pull the hood but I did cause I'm doing so much work and I like the look.