Through out all of the "fun" stuff I've done to the car over the years I've always pulled the engine from the top. But there is some paint work and cleaning I'd like to do to the engine bay, and I figure it might be easiest to simply drop the engine/trans/k-member out from the bottom of the car. Using a block of wood for support on the Core Support and lifting the nose of the car up while leaving the k-member with the engine/trans/a-arms/brakes/spindles sitting on a dolly of some sort.

Coming out from the top I can still do, but I'd have to take the nose of my car off because the hoist I have simply does not have a boom long enough to reach the engine and pull it out without the hydraulic bit touching the bumper cover and possibly damaging the paint.

I also think it would be easier to notch the K-member for LT1 A/C while its out of the car and easier to access.

I figure on using a 4x4 block of wood under the core support to keep the chain from damaging anything and pulling the nose up from that. Its how we've done it on 4th gens before and I think the core should be strong enough to support the weight of the car minus the engine/trans/brakes/etc...

Thoughts? Advice? Pitfalls?

 

A much easier way is to pull it from the top but the way i did it was me and my dad went to a metal yard and found a square tube that fit inside of the hoist, find one that is as close to the inside width and height as possible and you wanna make sure it will go back a few feet as well, then we drilled a hole though the hoist and tube put a heavy bolt though it and then you have an extra 3ft added to your engine hoist and theres no need to pull the nose cone

 

Well, if i I pull it from the top I HAVE to pull the nose. No way around it. When the car was painted the nose was attached, so if I pull it I may crack/break the paint seams and never get it to line up right again. Thats one of my worries and why I am thinking of pulling it from the bottom.

 

Reach from the side, put an extension on the boom, and/or rent a longer one.

 

it can be done , i have done it . the factory installed them from below . that said you will need shop & equipt. to do it . i do but , not too many home shops do . a gantry type hoist with a chain fall would do the job from the top , but they are not cheap . whatever you do good luck .

 

The entire front crossmember assembly is bolted to the car with 6 or maybe 8 bolts. Can't remember exactly. You'll also need to disconnect the brake lines since they're connected to the crossmember.

People have taken it out the bottom using only floor jacks to lift the body but a car hoist makes it a lot easier. An overhead crane to lift the front of the car will also work.

 

I can't imagine its that much different than doing it on a 4th gen. But the "fun" part is removing bolts that haven't been touched in 24 years.