best way to pull the engine

[ItsNotAnMG]

Hi all,
I'm fairly new to the boards here but appreciate all the information and help I've received either first hand or via another post. Right now I am in the midst of finishing a restore/repaint of my 79 spider, and am about to paint my engine bay this weekend. I looked at the shop Manuel and saw how to pull the engine and remove it from the transmission. However with my car being a Manuel transmission, would it be easier to disconnect the drive line and take the transmission out with the block? Just trying to save some time thanks in advance!

[wizard124]

Those that know, suggest pulling the engine is easier once the head is removed. The upper transmission bolts are a pita.

I pulled my engine and tranny as a single unit. It takes wiggle and finesse to work it past the center steering link, avoid scratching the engine bay with the cam boxes, and a floor jack under the tranny (or a helper with blocks). To include the tranny, consider the time to remove the 4 guibo bolts, remove the support, disconnect the clutch, disconnect the reverse light circuit (you might need to remove the center console for access?), disconnect the clutch and speedometer cable, and remove the shifter extension. I rented a towable engine hoist when I did mine. I needed to jack up the car for access underneath and then lowered the car during the pull so the engine/tranny could clear the top of the engine compartment.

[So Cal Mark]

to pull the two together you need to be able to get the car pretty high off the ground

[vandor]

Opinions vary, but I always leave the tranny in place unless it needs to come out for any reason.
Likely it's similar amounts of work, you just have to disconnect different things depending if the tranny stays or not.
Either way, you'll have to disconnect one side of the steering center link.

[SoFlaFiat]

Unbolt everything and lift the car off the top... Hahahaha

[aj81spider]

I pulled them together because after reading about how hard the bolts on the transmission and starter were to get at, it just seemed easier (and I was rebuilding the transmission, so it was coming out sooner or later anyway).

I'm a complete novice and it wasn't that bad. You need a helper, and I didn't remove the center steering link - but should have - it would have made things easier.

Mark is right, you need to jack it up some, but I used a standard floor jack and run of the mill jack stands.

Go slow and take lots of pictures. At the time I thought I was taking an outrageous number, but when I was putting it back together I really could have used some additional views.

[ItsNotAnMG]

Looks like you have a good helper Wizard!!

I have access to a two post and my entire interior is gutted so I'm thinking that SofaFiat's approach might be best for my application, especially when trying not to scratch my fresh paint when reassembling! I see you removed the hubs/rotors?

[riverdadd]

Wizard, I've never pulled with a rope!! What are you lifting with? a chain fall? i've always used a hydraulic motor lift and a chain.....

[johndemar]

I pretty much agree to pull the engine and tranny together.

I'm a novice when it comes to mechanics, but that didn't stop my son and I from doing this without incident.

Used a cherry picker, with a load leveler and went nice and easy.

[bradartigue]

Agree on engine/transmission together. It is dead easy if you remove the head first. Reinstall the same way, headless, and you don't have to keep bumping the firewall.

[RRoller123]

Would it make sense to pull it this way if you were going to do both a new Flywheel and clutch? Looking for the easiest method to do both.

Pete

[riverdadd]

i put a flywheel and clutch in my avatar, left motor in car and dropped tranny. I had car elevated a good 14"... and used all my socket extensions and a universal "wobble" joint to remove/ reinstall bolts, its not the most glamorous job but it can be done. imagine the rachet by the guibo and 2' of extensions......it is possible!!! the absolute worst was the pilot bearing... i couldnt remove the old one and it actually shattered in the end of the crank.... several hours of trials and failures, i finally was able to extract the offender. I put the new pilot bearing in the freezer over night and drove it home the following day, without any issues.

[SoFlaFiat]

Looks like you have a good helper Wizard!!

I have access to a two post and my entire interior is gutted so I'm thinking that SofaFiat's approach might be best for my application, especially when trying not to scratch my fresh paint when reassembling! I see you removed the hubs/rotors?

Honestly, I'm somewhat joking...
If your whole front suspension is, or will be disassembled then and only then does it makes sense to take the whole lot out from under the car.
In my case, I was installing the entire engine with head, intake, exhaust manifold and transmission mounted on the cross member, before I rebuilt my suspension. Ok that said, I may just do it the same way again since it was so easy and avoided any risk of damage to exterior paint or even engine bay. I would just mark the suspension parts before disassembly.

[wizard124]

Wizard, I've never pulled with a rope!! What are you lifting with? a chain fall? i've always used a hydraulic motor lift and a chain.....

The entire photo is not in view. I used a towable hyd engine hoist. Rope ran up to the hook at the end of the arm.

[76124]

I just pulled my 1.8 from my 76 with the trans attached. Never done it this way but with a load leveler on the crane it honestly was a piece of cake. Would not do it another way again. I was told by many you must get the car really high to make this possible, so I did, and mid way realized this is not really that necessary. I'd say a foot is all you need. So much easier IMO than wrestling with the tans and starter bolts under the car. I didn't even remove the short shifted that is also recommended. 2.0 should go in soon as i can tackle the steering box swap, fix the paint deterioration from the brake fluid etc.