amswak

This weekend I am hopefully going to begin removing the engine from my 87 to swap it with a zz4. I have never pulled the engine from a vette, so any suggestions or tips on the best way to pull the engine?

92corvette

My best tip.....get/read a manual.
Second tip....get a friend to help that knows how.



[Modified by 92corvette, 1:48 PM 5/11/2004]

cprgmr

Assuming you have the big tools (cherry picker, lift, engine stand), you'll need a vast assortment of ratchets, wrenches, extensions, etc. You'll also need torque wrenches, etc for putting everything back together.

Do yourself a favor and get a digital camera so you can document every step.

Invest in some zip-loc sandwich bags and masking tape so you can store/label all the bolts/washers/connectors, etc that you'll remove.

Purchase a healthy supply of paper towels to wipe up radiator fluid with.

Purchase a helms service manual for your year (www.helminc.com) and read each section mentioned for engine assembly removal a couple of times.

Take your time and work safe - it's not a hard job, just time consuming.

Good luck! :cheers:

96GS#007

:iagree: Also....Never assume you'll remember where a part or connector goes the next day.

amswak

I only have a cherry picker, is this still a feasable project without a lift or engine stand? lol, the closest I have to a lift is a floor jack...

MaddMaxx

I just pulled my motor for the first time last month in my 96. It was not very difficult. All i had was the cherry picker and a home made wood crate to put the motor on.

cprgmr

You'll spend some time under the car, so at the very least, you'll want jack stands as high as they'll go (and yet safe). If you don't plan on taking the old engine apart or porting components, you shouldn't need an engine stand (but they are pretty helpful). :)

amswak

I wasnt able to get to work on the car last weekend. Will I have to pull the hood, radiator and all off or is there a way to avoid doing so? Also, is it possible to pull the engine and tranny out together or are there too many obstacles in the way? The transmission is going to a performance rebuild shop, so it also has to come out.

FD2BLK

You don't have to remove the hood or the radiator to pull the motor. Just stick the hoist in from the side (On jacj stand and tire removed) and it will come out. I cant see how you can get the trans and motor out togeather.
This is not a good photo but it may help.

Jeffvette

This will give you some more pics and there is a video in there as well.
http://jef2577.tripod.com/index.html

Drop the tranny and driveshaft out. I suggest pulling the bellhousing and flywheel/flexplate as well just to make the engine a bit more easier to manage when on the hoist, plus it 'll give you a little more clearance from the the firewall.

No need to pull the hood or the radiator.

redfast

Its not that bad. Although I didn't keep any emmisions. So what I think is the easiest way of doing this is, lable everything( don't trust friends do it yourself and taking pics is helpfull). Keep track of all the bolts(lable) Unbolt intake and everything else around the engine. Tie the AC comp. out of the way. Once everything is unbolted take it out of the side of the car. I took the front tire's off to do this. I don't think you have to but its easyer to get to all the stuff too. If you have common sence you can do it in a long day or weekend, and it is not that bad. Unless in my case somone was there before and striped or overtightend all the bolts. I didn't use no manualls just labled everything with duct-tape and a marker. And put all the bots for the assesories in differen't bage, labled. :cheers: Good luck

JAKE

There are some guys that pull the engine and trans together, but I've only had to pull the engine by iteself from my 86.

No need to remove the hood, just work from the side of the car.

You can leave the radiator in, but since most of the coolant will be out anyway and it'll just be sitting there, why not just lift it out. Prevents the possibiity of it getting hit and damaged.

Be sure to remove the windshield wiper motor, it's easily damaged.

Jake


[Modified by JAKE, 5:51 PM 5/17/2004]

ben73

:iagree: :iagree: Been there!

Corvette Kid

I just did an engine R&R. Absolutely no reason to remove the transmission. especially with an automatic. Support it with your floor jack before you remove the last couple of bellhousing bolts.

Jeffvette

He stated the tranny is coming out for work as well. Break it up into two seperate jobs. It's easier.

JAKE

:iagree: If I ever had to pull BOTH, I'd pull them separately.

Jake

FD2BLK

One thing I have found on the C4s is removing the motor mounts from the block and sliding them out (Once the motor is supported by the lift) helps prevent the wiper motor from being damaged. It really gives you the extra clearance needed to get the motor out and it only takes about five min. (Three bolts each side)

Corvette Kid

Missed that, yes I too would separate them before pulling them both out then.

Steve85

A little thing that happened to me. When you raise the front onto jack stands, check and make sure the the cherry picker's boom can be centered on the motor. My jack stand ended up EXACTLY where the cherry picker front leg needed to be.

The main problem was that I had my floor jack supporting the tranny at the time and no other way to lift the car to move the jack stand. I ended up lifting the car with the cherry picker strapped to the front cross member. A real PIA at an inoppurtune time.

Probably a one in million thing but will only take you a few seconds to check.

Corvette Kid

At least two in a million, I've done such things too. Good point.