After getting figures between $400 to $2000 for removing my 5.0 TPI and installing my 5.7 TPI I came across a really good deal on an engine hoist. So I came up with the idea of doing it myself. I felt as long as I have you guys nearby (cause you guys always have the answers to the questions I always seem to have..), I felt comfortable doing it myself (along with help from a friend or two and my gal).

I plan to label every connector I disconnect. My 1st question is (as I stand here with a flat head screw driver and a 10mm socket on my rachet) "where do I start.???" I've disconnected the battery, disconnected the water hoses, disconnected the throttle and cruise cables, and I'm labeling and taking pics of all the connectors... wish me luck! I'm going in!!!!

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated..!.

P.S removing the engine and tranny, and replacing with an engine and tranny.. car is a 91 Z28, motor and tranny is from a 91 Z28

 

Remove the radiator. I didn't, thought I'd have plenty of room, and I did. BUT - the engine swung on the hoist going back in, and bumped the radiator ever so lightly - but still made a hole so I had to replace radiator.

Make sure you have a load leveler on the hoist if doing engine & tranny together.

 

Most important thing...TAKE YOUR TIME and PAY ATTENTION. Best of luck! Nothing like the feeling of firing up your car after a build you did yourself

 

Here is my advice:

1. Take pictures of everything before you start tearing into it.
2. Get a box of ziplock bags, some masking tape and a pen. Then put everything you pull off into the bags and label it.
3. It will take twice as long as you think.
4. It will cost twice as much as you think.

 

I would also label all connectors in a way you can understand. Even if it is a taped 1 on connector and a taped 1 on recepatcle. If you are even more unsure then write them down and list them so you can cross them off when connected.
All bolts to a general item like waterpump or serpentine pully mounting put in a bag or can and label. This way you will only havbe the bolts that you need at that time. There is nothing like searching through 50-60 bolts to find the one you are missing(been there, did that, didn't like and not doing it again). Now I am meticulous in labeling and separating bolts. It may take more time to begin with but will save more later.
No matter what you do there will be suprises for parts needed so plan well and take your time to help minimize trips to the parts store.

 

Lines 3-4 are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. Could not have said it better nor could I agree more. Been there, done that...

 

Removed the radiator today, started labeling some of the connectors. Disconnected the throttle cable, cruise cable, and the cable that goes to the tranny... found the pigtails for the fog lights missing. More tomorrow.

money spent today ? $87
number of trips into town to get parts ? 4
number of time I repeated "what tha hell did I get myself into?" 21

STONE

 

Now would be a swell time for poly mounts, wish I would have done that the first time I pulled my motor out, but wound up putting solid mounts in this last time I Took out the motor.
Also, if you think that you can get to something easier on the motor with it out to replace before you put it back in, don't hesitate it will save you time and aggrivation. Make sure all ground straps are removed from the back of the motor when you have the engine ready to pull out.
And are you positive this motor/ tranny your putting in has no issues?

 

poly mounts...? no issues on motor and tranny.. changing the spark plugs, and the fan switch (just to be on the safe side) Stone

 

Question.. I'm going from a 91 5.0 TPI to a 91 5.7 TPI I have both ECM's which one should I use..? Did both engines have a knock sensor ?

Stone

 

Polyurethane motor mounts. They are much more sturdy and keep your motor stabilized rather than rocking side to side(might not do it so bad if you don't have a radical cam)

Use 5.7 ECM

 

Remove the hood and put the car up on jack stands. I would drain all fluids before pulling. Now's the time to put headers on the car if you don't have them. Put a new water pump, timing chain, oil pan gasket, valve cover gaskets and a bigger can if you want one. This is all much easier with the engine out.

 

Hey I just noticed that you are from Manassas... I'll be heading up there on the 21st to pull a motor for one of my cars. I live outside of Richmond, there are alot of TGO members in Va...

 

Yes both have a knock sensor BUT they are different. Make sure you use the Knock sensor for the 350. And use the ecm for the 5.7. you wont have a shift light anymore though. and use the 350 22lb injectors not the 19lb's injectors from the 305
oh and change the tranny fluid while you have the tranny out, it's much easier

 

Automatics don't have a shift light.

 

Mine does

 

Replace the oil pan gaskets!!!! nothing more annoying than having a sweating motor and no way to fix it.

 

Really...

 

mine does too, there is just no light behind it to illuminate

 

Ok, thanks for all the great advice. Met someone on this forum who is from around here and he let me use his hoist, I'm letting him have what I remove (he has some friends that use old engines and fix them up..), also told him they are hiring at my job so he filled out an app so let's wish him luck (I work for the railroad..) Actually, I live just outside of manassas.. in Culpeper.

I found a set of Edlebrock Headers model number 6872's that I am thinking about installing on my 5.7... any input on installing these..? Found some really nice cloth seats out of 4th gen Camaro for $50 at a nearby salvage yard. All connectors are labeled and looking for some time off from work to "get er' done"

Stone

 

Found this little issue.. this wiring harness is screwed into the firewall (by the master cylinder). It has two connectors connected to it. My new wiring harness only has the connector on the right (right side of picture).. Traced one part of it to the wiper motor, another to the head lights. My issue is some of the wires go into the wiring harness part that is being removed, the rest seems like it can stay. So my question is, what is this section of the harness for..?

On a different note, I found 4 mice hiding in a rats nest in my engine compartment! Gives a new meaning to "mouse motor" !

Stone

 

Can anyone tell me FOR SURE what this sensor is.. ? I've been told it's a fan switch, a knock sensor and temp sensor.. I went to order a new one and I couldn't tell the guy at AutoZone what it is...

It's on the passenger side, in the head.. and that connector goes to it. Thanks guys!

Stone

 

Cooling fan switch.

I'd say you need a new one. And a new connector.

Both are available from O'Reilly. Not sure about A-Zone.

 

Yup. coolant fan switch. i just replaced mine, got it at autozone for around 8 bucks.

 

But when I got mine at o'reilly the didn't have the connector. But the did have a knock sensor connector and it will work also it's just a different color.

 

thats your C100, i had the same problem. Theres a 1/4" hex screw in the middle of it. remove that and your golden

 

Ok, thanks for letting me know.. I have everything lined up for tomorrow! Really excited! I'd like to paint my headers before I install them, anyone ever used something on their headers (paint wise) that turned out pretty good..? I'm using a set of Edlebrock 6872's I found in my previous 5.7

Stone

 

Ok, got it unattached from the fire wall, and planning on leaving it (the incoming wiring harness is missing it (see pic) It appears to be for my head lights and also connects to my wiper motor. Looks like it can be removed from the part of the wiring harness that is being replaced...

Also, exterminator is coming today, to fetch the mice I found in the engine compartment and to look for any in the dash. I left some cheese on a sheet of stick'em in hopes of catching them but didn't work. All I found was a note saying "Thanks! The cheese was delicious" ... I can't have mice in my car.. I DON'T DO MICE!

Stone

 

I'm quoting this because it's basically the god's word on the matter. So true.

 

I'm keeping track of this.. So far, I've been to the Auto Parts Store 13 times, and have spent around $300 that I wasn't planning on spending. I thought I'd be done by LAST weekend, just got the cross member out today. It's been raining a lot around here, so I try to do as much as I can in between rain showers and getting called for work. Painted my heads and water pump today, going to paint my headers black with VHT this weekend before installing them and putting the newer motor in..! Got my poly motor mounts.

On a side note, does anyone know why GM made the cross member "odd shaped" ? For a moment I thought it was warped.. then I saw a buddy of mines and it was the same thing.. Stone

 

label EVERY.SINGLE.THING! Thats the biggest pain when youre trying to find what goes where

 

The motor mounts took me a while to swap with the K member in place and I have little girl hands. I think I ended up bending or maybe even cutting a wrench and putting it inside the K member to hold the nuts while I tightened the bolts with a socket from the top. I don't remember the exact procedure that I used, but I do remember that I never want to change them again. Hopefully you have an easier time at it than I did.

 

it's just where it has to be, it follows the conformity of the unibody

 

Got the motor out and now cleaning up the engine bay. Trying to figure out the best way to replace the motor mounts. One has play in it, the other is solid and has NO play.. How are they suppose to be..?

Also, placed new mice traps in the engine bay and interior. Checked on them the next day and one trap was missing (yes, as in GONE) and one had mice feet imprinted in the glue part and the snickers candy piece was missing. If anyone knows of any good traps that WORK and you know it from experience please let me know.

5.7 going in this weekend. Then sending my rear in to get checked out, seals replaced etc.. Stone

 

No play.

"Build a better mouse trap, and the world will beat a path to your door."

 

A bit old and noticed you updated your profile with 5.7. How did the swap go?

 

Funny you should ask.. I've been working on things like the engine compartment.. patching a few rust holes (4 on drivers side and 5 dime size one's on the passenger side). Had a busy summer spending time with my son (he's 8) and now I'm ready to install the motor. I installed the motor mounts and was concerned as to which way the two metal flat rods went.. do they lean to the left, or lean to the right. After asking like 25 different people apparently it doesn't matter. So this weekend I plan to install the 5.7 and fire it up.

I'll let you know how it goes.. Stone