Pulling Engine Out

[joelittel]

Over the winter I plan to pull my engine and swap the block for one that's been prepped for HC pistons.

I've been reading as much as I can about how this is done but there isn't a lot of information about how to connect the engine to the hoist. I've been able to find a handful of pictures showing this in progress but it seems that everyone goes about it in a different way. Ie. some use rope, some wrap chains around the block, and some appear to have hooks mounted somewhere on the top of the engine.

What's the preferred method? Is there a safe place to attach a couple chains to the engine?

I don't trust rope and wrapping chains or straps around the engine doesn't seem secure either. I'd rather connect the engine to the hoist so it's as sturdy as it can be.

To make it a little easier on myself I thought I'd take the head and plenum off before trying to get the block out.

Maybe connect the hoist chains to the block using a few old head bolts and some additional hardware?

[johnsje6]

Have never done a Fiat but with American V8's and straight 6's we would use some old headbolts thru the chain to remove and install, just have to be careful not to damage the head or block surfaces and place the lift points so the engine comes out at the right angle. May have to try a few different lift points to get it right - good luck!

[aj81spider]

I pulled with the head on. There was a loop in the front to hook onto and when I pulled it, I pulled it with the exhaust manifold on and wrapped the leveler (highly recommended!) chains around one of the pipes.



When I put it back in I used a cam tower bolt in the back diagonally opposite the loop. The leveler I used had L shaped brackets with a hole. When I put it back in I pulled the bolt and ran it through the bracket and back into the engine. If the loop is missing in the front you can do the same there. The loop is just a metal bracket held by a cam tower bolt.

[SoFlaFiat]

I have successfully pulled many fiat engines using rope. If one considers a half inch nylon anchor line can hold a 42 foot, 10 ton cabin cruiser in a stiff breeze, it should have no problem picking up an engine as small as these. Using rope eliminates the possibility of maring the block, shredding threads on head or cam housing bolts, and searching out places to hook it to. Wrap under the bell housing and the cam gears for good purchase. All that said, if you want to hook a chain to bolts/brackets on your cam boxes, make sure the bolts are snug or you are sure to damage the threads in head or cam boxes as they are aluminum.
All that said, I have always removed the transmission from the engine first. The only time I have put engine/trans combo into, or out of, a car has been from the bottom. Now, that works like a dream!!

[joelittel]

Johnsje6 I'll be sure to pay attention to the angle of the engine as its coming out. Having never done this before I plan to take it very slow and be very cautious.

SoFlaFiat you make a good point about the anchor line holding a heavy boat. It's hard to argue with that. No marring also sounds good to me....

Aj81spider I have a loop like the one you've described, but I'll need to find a friend with a leveler.

Thanks

[wizard124]

I pulled the engine and tranny together using rope. Worked great, no leveler required. Head in place. Create a loop using a figure 8 knot ( easier to undo). This loop you attach the hoist to. One end went forward to the lifting eye attached to the head. The other tied to the rear of the exhaust manifold. Adjust as necessary to pull off the motor mounts evenly.

If you pull the complete package, it helps to have access under the car, a helper. It takes small movements and some wiggling to get it out without damaging the firewall and past the steering center link.

[ScoopMan]

Looks like I will have this task sometime in my future. Both the Brooklands and Chiltons manuals that I have tell you to remove the trans from the engine before lifting the engine alone. I was a little surprised at this, as I would have figured to pull the engine and trans out as a unit. Looks like one can do it either way.

[joelittel]

I'm almost ready to pull the engine but need more advice.

If I leave the transmission in place and just pull the block out (head has already been removed) what is/will be keeping the trans in position? It looks as if once it's been separated from the engine block there isn't a whole lot holding it up. My shop manual says to support it with a jack... but... will that jack be the only thing keeping the trans from falling to the floor?

Maybe Santa will bring me a garage with a lift for Christmas this year. Fingers crossed and hopes up.

Also, for those of you who separated the engine from the transmission, how did you guys get access to the four bolts connecting the two? From the bottom, top... cut access holes in the floor/firewall?

[joelittel]

Been reading as much as possible on the subject and it seems that I'll need at least one universal joint and as much as 24" of extension on my socket wrench.

[joelittel]

Today I was able to get the starter out, loosen the four bolts connecting the bell housing to the block and loosen the nuts holding the motor mounts down.

Very happy so far. This seemed very overwhelming two weeks ago, but now I have high hopes that I'll be able to pull it off.

I've supported the trans with my floor jack because I'm still not sure what is, or will be, holding it in place once the block comes out.

The Commander (my wife) says that Santa will not be bringing me a lift for Christmas unless he first brings her a two car garage... understandable.

[joelittel]

I'm missing something here. I removed the four bolts holding the block to the bell housing, and removed the nuts holding the motor mounts in place, supported the trans with my floor jack and started to lift the engine up and off the bolts in the mounts.

But that's as far as I could get it. The shop manual says to bring the engine up and forward, but mine doesn't want to come forward at all.

The shop manual says that on a car with an automatic transmission you must disconnect the torque converter, is there something on the manual transmission that I didn't disconnect?

[azruss]

sounds like the input shaft on the tranny is still stuck in the clutch and pressure plate. The motor will need to slide forward and not up to clear the shaft. This operation will bind unless the motor and tranny remain in alignment until the shaft clears. If you are lifting the motor up, then the back of the tranny will need to drop and the motor tilted back to keep the alignment.

[Nanonevol]

Did you remove the thin metal flywheel cover from the lower front of the transmission?

[joelittel]

Thanks guys.

I did remove the thin metal flywheel cover... just forgot to mention it.

If I can get to it tonight I'll attempt to align the engine and the trans and slide it, the engine, forward before lifting it.

[76was124]

Do you have the radiator removed for extra clearance?