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Body off vs engine gearbox lift

Psgts1

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Hi guys,just about to start my first v8efi into 6 conversation, question is do. Lift the body or lift motor and gearbox, imagining the angle to pull out and put in may be steep and a little dodge on my 1.5 tonne crane, vs the angle of the car!, Donor is vq complete car into VH sle 6cyl, thanks peeps
 

losh1971

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I normally pull engine and gearboxes or auto out bolted together. Personally I was going to try and lift the body off the frame I would want a hoist. I wouldn't like to have a engine crane wobbling around with a body attached. I have seen the latter done on HJ utes but they have a full chassis. I also have seen bare Torana shells lifted with a few strong blokes but that was more so it could be transported off a rotation frame to enable the entire shell rotated for painting and moved onto a trailer, with nothing attached.
 

Psgts1

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Sorry chief my idea would of had the body on stands, motor and gearbox supported by jacks and stands, unbolt kframe,g,box x member, exhaust ECT undu jacks and stands supporting motor and gearbox and roll out, then roll in new one, was never going to hold up the body with a crane, interesting thinking thou...............
 

Sabbath'

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Both ways are more than do-able. Angle to get motor and box in and out isn't too bad.

Alternate way of lifting the body off can be done by unbolting everything then lifting it a little then a block of wood in each strut tower and then hoisting it away.
 

EYY

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Easiest way at home without a hoist is by pulling the engine/box out from the top then dropping the k frame.

I’ve done quite a few conversions that way.
 

vc commodore

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You can buy an attachment that goes onto an engine crane, which bolts to the engine, which allows you to adjust the engine angle, via a socket.....Makes it a nice proposition to remove and/ or replace the engine by yourself, minimising the risk of damaging panels.

The nephew and I did an engine swap, with a VN ute about 12 months ago.....Was a V6 5 speed.....The easiest way I found with that, was unbolt the k-frame and associated parts and remove the engine and gearbox as a unit and put it back the same way.....

We made a little dolly set up, to move the assembley, with the body fairly high up....Worked a treat.....So a few different ideas to work with
 
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