Hey guys, as some of you know my turbo is almost complete and just couldn't get the oil to stop leaking at the return bung I welded in the pan. I pulled the pan yesterday which leads to my question. Since I am building a new motor, I plan on buying a cherry picker. I'm just curious how you guys are going about pulling the motor out of the 'Birds with the long nose? Is there a picker that I can get that will reach, or am I going to have to pull the front clip off to get it out (I like to remove the hod for a motor swap anyways, but if I don't have to pull the clip...)?

 

You need to pull the hood, but you do not need to pull the front clip.

I have had my 355 in and out more times than I want to remember, and I always take the engine and trans together. It is just easier that way because I have the T-5 and I feel it saves time.

An adjustable chain bar will also help you achieve the correct angles in and out.

Make sure you protect the front bumper cover with an old blanket or something because the hoist will bump right up to it.

 

Do you have the aero package, that's what I am worried about?

 

I usually pull off a wheel, and bring in the picker from one side, the legs straddling the spindle area.
I also pull engine and tranny together, so much easier.
I only ever remove the hood. I don't put down blankets though, my paint job is behind repair at this point...

 

I thought about doing it from the side like you say. I can easily reach the bell housing bolts with the 60* motor, so it will be just as easy for me to pull the engine by itself. It's just all the pickers I looked at within my budget seem really short.

 

I pull them together not because it's hard to separate the engine from tranny to pull out, but it's hard to connect them to put back in The stickshift is what makes it annoying.

The pickers have an extendable arm usually. The shortest setting is 2000lbs safe rating, the longest reach is 500lbs safe. I use the longest.

 

If you go in from the side you can use a "cheap" picker. Put both ends of the car up on stands will help with access to the top bell housing bolts with a 36" extension. See below. It can be done, but takes time.

 

Thanx. With the 60 degree engine, all the bell housing bolts are easily reached is what I was getting at, it's harder with a 90* V8. I know this because the first tranny I changed was on an 85 Camaro. I've pulled engines before, just never on a Firebird, and the way the nose keeps getting in the way...

In fact the only major scratch on the car is right on the tip of the nose from the trailer I used to tow it home (it moved just a couple of inches while driving and hit the crank on the tounge). If you look in my sig you can see it slightly. Also one night at the track, I lost my water pump and had to get a tow home. I cringed when I heard the front scrapping on the way up/down the flatbed, so I was just concerned just by eyeballing the size of the picker I was looking at. Just over $100 at Harbor Freight (motor stand is about the same).

Thanx for the pics, Supervisor .

 

I have the Trans Am Aero package from 1984 (which is different but close to the newer front bumper covers, etc.).

Like I said, you CAN do this from the front. The hoist design may make a difference when it comes to how much clearance you have at the bumper cover. Because the hoist designs vary, you may need some trial and error.

The side option will have enough clearance for sure.