Engine Removal Tips

[FireBird_Fr3ak]

Im going to be taking my 3.8 out this weekend to replace it with another with 65k. I have a cherry picker, bobcat, engine stand...all tools ever needed. I was just wondering if there where any tips, or suggestions on what i should do.

TIA

[josh98bird]

Re: Engine Removal Tips

be ready to get dirty, and make sure the area you have the car will be ready to get dirty. and have fun

[usd2sing]

Re: Engine Removal Tips

patience.


watch out for the grounding strap(s). one is on the backside of the drivers side head. tends to get missed by many.

hit all the bolts u can get to with some PB blaster the night before. im talking every single one u can get at.
let it soak over night if possible.

removing upper intake mani helps quite a bit also. give u another 5-6in of room to play with.
i've pulled 3 in the past yr. (dont ask..hahaha)

again patience is your friend.

EDIT: be careful.!!!! as soon as u can roll/slide the picker forward with the motor attached do it. u dont want an accident like the chain slips a link and drops down onto your windshield.
if removing the engine only and not the trans with it you'll find it easier to slightly spin/rotate the block toward the passenger side as your lifting, just dont pull/tug/crush the ac lines, etc.

good luck

reEDIT:
if u really want to make it super simple, pull both upper and lower intakes and the heads off. this will create a huge amount of room to work with....ask me how i know...hahahah

[usd2sing]

Re: Engine Removal Tips

another little tid bit.

once u get all the wiring undone u can center it in the bay and flip it up onto the windshield, using the windshield wipers to hold it out of the way.

keeps u from trashing any of the wiring and plugs/connectors..

edit: buy yourself a ratcheting box end wrench. 13mm....trust me! well worth the $10.

if u have an auto trans....the hold down for the dipstick tube for the auto is a b__ch..
my hands and arms were just to dam big. this one single 13mm nut took 2hrs..pain in the a...
its at the back of the passenger head, on a stud. big wiring loom in the way. no room to work it. i ended up getting it from under the car. barely. on the 1st motor pulled.
learned that removing the upper intake mani made it ALOT easier.

[FireBird_Fr3ak]

Re: Engine Removal Tips


Heh i got started today :naughty:

[slow6]

Re: Engine Removal Tips

OMG!!! dude have fun with that lol
why are you taking out your engine to replace it with another that has 65k on it? whats wrong with yours?

i'm 6'2" and 190 lbs and I had a GOOD amount of trouble:
pulling mine out
rebuilding it
putting it back in! <--- this is the worst I think

I cant believe nobody has told you to drop the k-member and slide the engine out. According to GM its the "Easiest" way to do it, but its not as safe as taking the engine out the top. Because the car could fall on you. (I've lived under my car for the last few months and I feel like a troll waiting to grab passers-by.)
I did my swap myself, so you really need some help!!!
I've always pulled them out the top. I wanted to try dropping the k-member. But I didnt have a writeup for it.... I know I know.. its straight forward.
GOOD LUCK you'll need it

[FireBird_Fr3ak]

Re: Engine Removal Tips

OMG!!! dude have fun with that lol
why are you taking out your engine to replace it with another that has 65k on it? whats wrong with yours?

i'm 6'2" and 190 lbs and I had a GOOD amount of trouble:
pulling mine out
rebuilding it
putting it back in! <--- this is the worst I think

I cant believe nobody has told you to drop the k-member and slide the engine out. According to GM its the "Easiest" way to do it, but its not as safe as taking the engine out the top. Because the car could fall on you. (I've lived under my car for the last few months and I feel like a troll waiting to grab passers-by.)
I did my swap myself, so you really need some help!!!
I've always pulled them out the top. I wanted to try dropping the k-member. But I didnt have a writeup for it.... I know I know.. its straight forward.
GOOD LUCK you'll need it

Why, because i spun a bearing, and it has 115k on it.
And I have alot of help, i have 2 friends today, and 4 tomorrow.
And my dad has taken out plenty and can help if i need it.

[UDLOSE98]

Re: Engine Removal Tips

I am going to pull mone out the top too, on wed or thur. its totally stripped.

[slow6]

Re: Engine Removal Tips

i too took off the heads/intakes/exhaust manifolds before I pulled mine out the top
you either have to disconnect the tranny now or later, which is it?
do you have a load lever and tranny jack?
I had to take out my radiator to get my engine in.
Also I had to take off the bumper cause my lift wouldnt reach far back into the car!

[FireBird_Fr3ak]

Re: Engine Removal Tips

That was me just getting started, lol I have the whole upper end off, I just need to unbolt the tranny, the last few hoses and wires and pull it out with either the cherry picker or bobcat. Ill try to get you pics of what it looks like now.

[slow6]

Re: Engine Removal Tips

lol you have a bobcat? what are you gonna use it for? I guess it could come in handy.
The tranny bolts are 18mm and the top 2 are the hardest to get.
Do you have a manual?
When installing the tranny back, always put install the TQ C in the Tranny first!
Good luck!

[FireBird_Fr3ak]

Re: Engine Removal Tips

^^ For the tranny where did you go in from to get the top 2?

[BLLDOGG]

Re: Engine Removal Tips

a tip to get to the top bolts for the unawair.

when you are taking the tranny out, have a jack under it, unbolt it from its rear support and slowly lower the jack some. This pulls the whole tranny/engine assembly back and down allowing more space to work with. I would do these bolts first because it is less stress on those bolts compared to if you leave them for last. otherwise, you could run into problems because of the stress of the whole situation. Just something i have learned.

[FireBird_Fr3ak]

Re: Engine Removal Tips

This is from last night, didnt get a chance to take pics today...

I put in my new Halo fog lights too ill get some pics of that tomorrow too.:banana:

[FireBird_Fr3ak]

Re: Engine Removal Tips

Fog Lights, sorry about crappy pics, it was on my phone. And this is just bypassed with it right to the battery because well read above...

Fits perfectly in stock fog light location.