Hi Everyone,
I was wondering if it is possible to remove the pistons (and connecting rods of course) from the engine while it is still in the car?
I've heard that you can on some vehicles but I wasn't sure about F-Bodies.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Possible?

Yes.


Practical?

Not really.


It's probably 2-3 times as much work and hassle to take them out that way, as to just resign yourself to the correct way of doing it, renting a cherry picker, and doing it right.


And as far as putting them back in:

Certainly, not the fastest, easiest, cleanest, or cheapest way; and even more, not the best way to assure a successful rebuild. Think about it.... how are you going to clean up the block?

 

Bores are cut down into the mainbearing webs, won't work.

 

Sure it will; you just gotta take the heads off first.

 

Thanks for the reply sofakingdom. One of the problems I am having is finding a place that rents a cherry picker

 

They're EVERYWHERE. I live out in the woods, and there's 2 places within 10 miles of me that does. If you're in a city, you shouldn't have any trouble at all.

Gotta be the 3rd most common rental item there is; right behind trucks and trailers. More common than cement mixers even. I have NEVER in all my days seen a rental yard that didn't have them.

 

I gotta quit posting right after I get up, I thought he was asking about pulling the pistons from the bottom. My apologies to everyone.

It's tough to pull the rods and pistons with the engine in the car though. Have to jack the engine up to get the pan off and getting the top end down is really tough. Yank the motor would be my vote.

 

where are you generally from formula novice?

 

I'm from southern IL but have moved to St. Louis. I keep my car in a garage in southern IL for the time-being since I live in an apartment.