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Drop rear cradle & pull engine ??

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Old Oct 21, 2024 | 02:39 PM
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Default Drop rear cradle & pull engine ??

I've always dropped the front & rear cradles together as I used to have a friend near me with an AC machine. I need to put a new Torq converter in, take a look at the torq tube & inspect my rod and main bearings (oil pressure keeps going down & car has lost .2 et in the 1/8th & 3 mph) I am thinking of dropping the rear as usual but pulling the engine so I don't have to recharge the AC & mess with the abs & brake lines in front. I know I'll need to pull the radiator.
WDYT
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Old Oct 21, 2024 | 06:55 PM
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I haven't had a car with AC in 25 years, but otherwise I prefer dropping it. I pulled my last engine from the top and will never do it again. It takes some much work to get a clear path, just isn't worth it to me.

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Old Oct 21, 2024 | 08:05 PM
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Originally Posted by grpweld
I've always dropped the front & rear cradles together as I used to have a friend near me with an AC machine. I need to put a new Torq converter in, take a look at the torq tube & inspect my rod and main bearings (oil pressure keeps going down & car has lost .2 et in the 1/8th & 3 mph) I am thinking of dropping the rear as usual but pulling the engine so I don't have to recharge the AC & mess with the abs & brake lines in front. I know I'll need to pull the radiator.
WDYT
You can pull the motor out the top without having to disconnect the AC or brake lines. The front cradle still needs to be lowered but it can all be done on jackstands in a garage.
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Old Oct 21, 2024 | 08:35 PM
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Thanks Subfloor I have a 2 post lift
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Old Oct 21, 2024 | 11:25 PM
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I dropped the whole drivetrain in my car. If you've got a 2-post hoist, it's a no-brainer, IMO. I did mine on a set of Quickjacks.

I swapped the rad in my car, so I ended up dumping my A/C system in the process, but obviously that isn't NECESSARY.

See the details of my rebuild here: LS7 rebuild thread
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Old Oct 22, 2024 | 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Cap'n Pete
I dropped the whole drivetrain in my car. If you've got a 2-post hoist, it's a no-brainer, IMO. I did mine on a set of Quickjacks.

I swapped the rad in my car, so I ended up dumping my A/C system in the process, but obviously that isn't NECESSARY.

See the details of my rebuild here: LS7 rebuild thread
Maybe you didn't read that I've alway dropped front & rear together! I've done it more than 6 times! I am looking for someone to comment about their experience pulling the motor out the top. So I can leave the AC comp in place & not disconnect the AC Lines!
Why did you yell NECESSARY to me?
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Old Oct 22, 2024 | 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by grpweld
Maybe you didn't read that I've alway dropped front & rear together! I've done it more than 6 times! I am looking for someone to comment about their experience pulling the motor out the top. So I can leave the AC comp in place & not disconnect the AC Lines!
Why did you yell NECESSARY to me?
While its probably easier to drop the whole drivetrain "dealership" style, it's pretty straightforward doing it from the top.

The last time I timed myself it took me just under 5 hours and that was without trying to hurry.
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Old Oct 22, 2024 | 10:54 PM
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Originally Posted by grpweld
Maybe you didn't read that I've alway dropped front & rear together! I've done it more than 6 times! I am looking for someone to comment about their experience pulling the motor out the top. So I can leave the AC comp in place & not disconnect the AC Lines!
Why did you yell NECESSARY to me?
Sorry for the shitty feedback. I was just thinking for what it took to drop everything out the bottom together, then "why not". I don't see the advantage to going engine up, drivetrain down, if you're pulling it all anyway, exc. the difference with the A/C (sorry for my ignorance ... thought it was possible to have left intact, and that I pulled mine arbitrarily, but again maybe not ).

Can't help you if you can't read CAPS in any other context than yelling. Would you prefer if I use bold or italics next time instead, to emphasize a word?

I thought we're all car geeks here, not keyboard/grammar police!
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Old Oct 23, 2024 | 04:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Cap'n Pete
Sorry for the shitty feedback. I was just thinking for what it took to drop everything out the bottom together, then "why not". I don't see the advantage to going engine up, drivetrain down, if you're pulling it all anyway, exc. the difference with the A/C (sorry for my ignorance ... thought it was possible to have left intact, and that I pulled mine arbitrarily, but again maybe not ).

Can't help you if you can't read CAPS in any other context than yelling. Would you prefer if I use bold or italics next time instead, to emphasize a word?

I thought we're all car geeks here, not keyboard/grammar police!
Thanks Cap'n Pete! I appreciate you explaining that you were just emphasizing, When I first started emailing or texting my bil always gave me crap about my caps being on
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Old Nov 3, 2024 | 11:55 PM
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Originally Posted by davidfarmer
I haven't had a car with AC in 25 years, but otherwise I prefer dropping it. I pulled my last engine from the top and will never do it again. It takes some much work to get a clear path, just isn't worth it to me.
second this
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Old Nov 4, 2024 | 09:53 AM
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Originally Posted by davidfarmer
I haven't had a car with AC in 25 years, but otherwise I prefer dropping it. I pulled my last engine from the top and will never do it again. It takes some much work to get a clear path, just isn't worth it to me.
Thanks davidfarmer what all did you have to do to get a clear path?
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Old Nov 12, 2024 | 11:24 AM
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Originally Posted by grpweld
Thanks davidfarmer what all did you have to do to get a clear path?
Aside from pulling the fan, h2o pump, alt, pass side ex. manifold & unbolting the P.S. pump & ac comp. was pretty straight forward to pull
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Old Nov 12, 2024 | 02:10 PM
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I pulled mine out from the top and installed it alone no help on my 2011 GS.

Now I already had the trans and torque tube removed... I am sure that helped as I did not need to worry about the transmission shaft/clutch alignment.

I did not remove the radiator and I did not disconnect the AC compressor lines. I was able to just clear the radiator shroud...

The front cradle had to be loosened...

Either way I think you will need to drop the rear cradle and pull the entire trans/torque tube back to disengage the drive shaft from the clutch/housing...Unless its an Automatic... then you may be able to pull it straight out... then its a matter of tilting and lifting...

As far as there being enough room to pull it in and out... thats not an issue.

SPEED SAFE, NICK
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Old Nov 13, 2024 | 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by AIR_RAM
I pulled mine out from the top and installed it alone no help on my 2011 GS.

Now I already had the trans and torque tube removed... I am sure that helped as I did not need to worry about the transmission shaft/clutch alignment.

I did not remove the radiator and I did not disconnect the AC compressor lines. I was able to just clear the radiator shroud...

The front cradle had to be loosened...

Either way I think you will need to drop the rear cradle and pull the entire trans/torque tube back to disengage the drive shaft from the clutch/housing...Unless its an Automatic... then you may be able to pull it straight out... then its a matter of tilting and lifting...

As far as there being enough room to pull it in and out... thats not an issue.

SPEED SAFE, NICK
Yes already had the TT and rear cradle removed! Came out just fine! Thanks SSN
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