This thanksgiving break I am going to pull out my old engine, I was wondering whats the easiest way to do it?

Should I strip the engine down to the short block then pull it or leave the heads on? Should I pull out the engine with the transmission attached or disconnected? If I pull the engine with the transmission attached do I have to take out the radiator for clearance?

 

I wooudl take out the radiator either way so you don't accidently hit it, doesn't take that long to take out anyways since you have to drain the fluids already.

Make sure you take the Distributer off or it will hit the firewall. The headers might catch so either take them out or unbolt them. I usually take it out with the manifold and heads still on.

As for the tranny, do you need to take it out? do you feel like tryin to unbolt those 2 top bolts out ( always found to be a pain)

 

not very pratical most of the time but if you invert the car the engine will usually fall right out, so i guess that's the best method as far as amount of effort required.

i always pull engine with trans attached if it's an auto, manuals depend, i strip the carb/tbi/tpi and distributor and sometimes whatever is bolted to the front. removing the radiator is a good move.

 

Here's how my 305 came out...

 

If you don't need to remove the tranny, pull the engine only. It takes a little finese to get the engine/trans out together, but it can be done. I strip the dist, water pump & carb (if equipped). I would pull the rad too. It sucks when the engine accidentlly crashes into it, causing unrepairable damage.

 

To make it easier on me what I usually do is leave the intake on and everything and tie a chain to the engine via the clips that go into the intake, and I remove the headers/exhaust manifolds. Its easier for me to drop the tranny/engine in together so that I can make sure that the tranny goes on right instead of getting under the car making sure the torque converter is on right.

But if you can get the tranny disconnected easily, would save you time from disconnecting it from the cross member/the universal joint.

 

No need to remove the distributor... just take off the cap and wires and you'll be fine, just like when mine came out. You can leave just about the whole engine assembled. I think all that came off mine when it came out was the dist. cap and the exhaust manifolds.

The rad is a good idea to take out as well.

If its a early manual trans, dont forget to disconect the Z-bar too, lol... it wont wanna come out if you leave it.

 

and for sure dont take your headers off like stated above...

thats just silly, you'll have plenty of room to move the engine to avoid them hitting something, if they do at all

(pulled my 355 out twice with headers, never even had to worry about it.) dont risk snapping a bolt/stud...

once u have it out, if your going to take them off then i would soak them in penitrating oil/wd 40...

 

I would drain & remove the radiator,,
drain the tranny,,
drop the drive shaft,,
disconnect everything going to the engine and tranny,,
remove at least the distributor cap if not the whole thing,,
put a small hydraulic jack under the back end of the tranny,,
pull the engine & tranny together.

As you pull the engine out and forward a bit, you will be lifting also,,, the tranny will ride on the jack as the whole thing comes out. Have the wheels of the jack and jack wheels in line with the tranny.

Having the tranny with the engine will pay dividends when it comes to put it all back in.

BTW: It is alot of hard work no matter which way you do it. Just be prepared.

 

I pull my headers because they ride close to the firewall and don't want to risk hurting anything ::shrug::

 

I knew that I forgot something important.

Being as I am (very forgetful), I would strongly recommend that you label everything that you remove as far as the connectors are concerned. Also, put bolts in marked plastic bags. And also, take alot of pictures.

Hope this helps and good luck!