New project - Removing Engine & Trans... How?

[Paiste402]

I want to remove my engine and trans, mainly cause my trans is throwing in the towel and i would like to upgrade a few things with the motor out as well as repaint the car and engine bay.

How do i go about this? I know its not for the faint hearted (thus y ive lined up a 1980 ford laser to use meanwhile... dont give me that look it was free. ). I would like to know how the process goes.

I know i will need:

An engine crane, Good ramps, Trolley jacks, allllot of tools and buckets... if not truckloads of patience.

I am mechanically minded, i have done the head gaskets, lifters and pushrods, water pump, many starter motors, exhaust manifolds, intake manifolds and my LPG system and so on.

I know alot of u guys have done these sort of projects and i was wowed by the end result, i hope u can wash some of that wisdom my way

thanks fellas.

Wade.

[DANNY8]

Pretty much undo everything which connects the motor to the body. I normally start with the electrics, or remove the radiator and hoses. Doesn't matter which order as long as it all comes off. Also it's better to undo ur exhaust from the side of the head if possible, if not just undo it from underneath somewhere if it has flanges or clamps....or if all else fails, get out the grinder.

If u have an auto, ya gotta undo the linkage off the side of the trans, remove the speedo cable (we normally remove that when the motor's half out), and also don't forget the engine mounts and trans mount.

An engine crane or block and tackle will do, and as for tools, well a basic tool kit should pretty much be ok, some specialty tools make the job easier, say like ratchet spanners, but yeah ya find these things out as ya go. One thing which helps is an engine leveller, so ya can change the level of the motor and trans as u pull it out, to help clear things. The tailshaft will pull out by itself (well the trans pulls out of the tailshaft), so make sure u got a big tray under it coz she'll drop all ur tranny juice.

[Paiste402]

Pretty much undo everything which connects the motor to the body. I normally start with the electrics, or remove the radiator and hoses. Doesn't matter which order as long as it all comes off. Also it's better to undo ur exhaust from the side of the head if possible, if not just undo it from underneath somewhere if it has flanges or clamps....or if all else fails, get out the grinder.

If u have an auto, ya gotta undo the linkage off the side of the trans, remove the speedo cable (we normally remove that when the motor's half out), and also don't forget the engine mounts and trans mount.

An engine crane or block and tackle will do, and as for tools, well a basic tool kit should pretty much be ok, some specialty tools make the job easier, say like ratchet spanners, but yeah ya find these things out as ya go. One thing which helps is an engine leveller, so ya can change the level of the motor and trans as u pull it out, to help clear things. The tailshaft will pull out by itself (well the trans pulls out of the tailshaft), so make sure u got a big tray under it coz she'll drop all ur tranny juice.

ah thanks mate, just the info i was hoping for. Right, so to what you are saying the tailshaft just slots into the auto trans? Nothing to undo to free it from the diff?

[Tom_1569]

Danny summed it up pretty well.

A couple of things we do different though. Drain the oil from the motor and trans before removing. The tailshaft isnt hard to remove, so you may aswell remove it before hand, because its bloody impossible to slot it back in when installing the trans especially without a hoist.

Also the Dissy have a habbit of hitting the firewall and breaking, so it can be easier to remove it before you start pulling just to be safe.
You can remove the radiator and/or the fan to give you more room, same goes with the bonnet.
Make sure everything is disconnected obviously, no doubt you will forget one or two things, we all do.
Power steering hoses, or sit the pump to the side. Air-con compressor, its easiest just to unbolt it from the engine and sit aside so you dont have to regas it.
Wiring, accelerator cable, just all the small shit like that really. Go over it and over it before you go hulk hogan and yank it out.
Grab a white marker pen and mark everything so you know where it goes back. Bag nuts and bolts in snap-lock bags labelling each one.

Take your time and have plenty of beers on hand.

[Paiste402]

Danny summed it up pretty well.

A couple of things we do different though. Drain the oil from the motor and trans before removing. The tailshaft isnt hard to remove, so you may aswell remove it before hand, because its bloody impossible to slot it back in when installing the trans especially without a hoist.

Also the Dissy have a habbit of hitting the firewall and breaking, so it can be easier to remove it before you start pulling just to be safe.
You can remove the radiator and/or the fan to give you more room, same goes with the bonnet.
Make sure everything is disconnected obviously, no doubt you will forget one or two things, we all do.
Power steering hoses, or sit the pump to the side. Air-con compressor, its easiest just to unbolt it from the engine and sit aside so you dont have to regas it.
Wiring, accelerator cable, just all the small shit like that really. Go over it and over it before you go hulk hogan and yank it out.
Grab a white marker pen and mark everything so you know where it goes back. Bag nuts and bolts in snap-lock bags labelling each one.

Take your time and have plenty of beers on hand.

cheers mate, i really appreciate the last note . Alright, lucky i got a mate with about 5 engine cranes (although 3 have 202 motors on them lol). Well the moment i get my luxury Ford Lazer rego'd i will get started and trust me i will be back here complaining that ive done SOMETHING wrong.

thanks guys

[vn calais manual]

take your time and think about things and youll be fine mate

drain your trans.gearbox oil to avoid major spillages .

the tailshaft is on a spline to the gearbox so it will slide it, but it will alose drop your oil out once on a decent angle !

[DANNY8]

The tailshaft isnt hard to remove, so you may aswell remove it before hand, because its bloody impossible to slot it back in when installing the trans especially without a hoist.

When we put the motor and box back in, one of us is guiding the motor in, and the other is sitting inside the car with a fan belt wrapped around the back of the trans (through the trans tunnel.....won't work if ya have an auto tho unless ya remove the plate), to lift the trans onto the crossmember. Then chuck ya hand down the hole to guide the tailshaft in.

[vn calais manual]

When we put the motor and box back in, one of us is guiding the motor in, and the other is sitting inside the car with a fan belt wrapped around the back of the trans (through the trans tunnel.....won't work if ya have an auto tho unless ya remove the plate), to lift the trans onto the crossmember. Then chuck ya hand down the hole to guide the tailshaft in.

haha old school but i like it

[Tom_1569]

When we put the motor and box back in, one of us is guiding the motor in, and the other is sitting inside the car with a fan belt wrapped around the back of the trans (through the trans tunnel.....won't work if ya have an auto tho unless ya remove the plate), to lift the trans onto the crossmember. Then chuck ya hand down the hole to guide the tailshaft in.

You bloody bastard lol. I see how it works now
We do ours on a hoist so I think its still easier for us to remove the tailshaft, since it takes about 30 seconds if that on a hoist haha.

[EcotecVK]

you can chuck the TYailshaft on easy, jack and jack stands. Problem solved, its what i do.

[Paiste402]

ah killer, thanks guys. I thought the tail shaft was a little more involved.