when swapping your motor which way did you go? pull it out from the top or dropped the whole K-member and drop it that way?

 

In every 3rd gen i have pulled the engine from...which is about 7...all from the top.

Now every 4th i have done...which is about 3...all from the bottom. the 4th gens can be pulled from the top, but with the engine sitting back so far its very difficult.

Coming out the top in a 3rd is SUPER easy....do your self a favor and pull the trans also. Not much underneath to unhook to yank it. and you will love doing the bellhousing bolts out of the car versus under it.

 

Yea out the top works. Jack up the rear of the car ALOT, like 25"+ and it will let the engine/trans combo come right out without dragging the tailshaft on the ground. Goodluck, install is just as easy.

 

agreed to both of the previous posts.

 

agreed. i have pulled these motors out and have always done it with the trans. i was just curious on how you guys did it. im tryin to tell my buddy to pull his trans the same time he pulls his motor just to make it alot easier. especially since hes goin to reuse his trans.

 

From the top. I've always separated the engine and trans though but mostly because I never had a reason to take out both at the same time.

 

Probably a stupid question... I'm in the middle of an engine swap 87 iroc z28 305 to a built 350. If I take the 305 out the top will I have to remove the K member? I'm having some trouble with the oil pan clearing it. I noticed the post about jacking the rear and lowering the front would this save me the hassle of taking out the cross member?

 

you have to be able to tilt the motor at a pretty good angle to get it in. this is the angle i had to do for my rx7 which the engine bay is a little bit smaller then a 3rd gen compartment. the car was up on jacks pretty high. i still had to wrestle it even at that angle.

 

you can pull it with the tranny attached without any issues. If you are getting hung up on a motor mount a little push with a pry bar and up and over it goes and out she comes

 

having a load leveler (or some way to balance out weight) makes this a lot easier. I pull from the top if its just the motor, but many, especially when it comes to oil pan clearance on the lsx swaps, drop the kmember when they're pulling the trans out attached

 

Having been an "over-the-top"-er several times, I recently converted to the bottom-feeder cult.




Especially true if you are doing a major platform change, such as V6 to V8, or factory to LS1. Headers, spark plugs, distributor, wiring harness, transmission, accessories, radiator - all can be installed when pulling or installing the engine. The right front brake line and steering link do need to be separated, but those are pretty minor things.

And, think about it - how do you think the factory installed them?

 

Got it out! Thanks for the advice guys, A load leveler and Giant Pry-Bar are a need to have.