91 4 cylinder engine removal

I have a 91 Grand Am with a 2.5 4 cylinder engine that needs pulled. I got a Haynes manual and it is talking about dropping the whole engine and transmission out the bottom and lifting the car up to do this. Please everyone tell me it ain't so and they have easily split the engine from the transaxle and lifted the engine out the top like it was meant to be?? thanks for any and all help on this!!

Sorry to tell you this but the manual is right. You can take it from the rop but it is not worth the hassle imho.

that engine will come out of the top if you split it at the tranny and the block

that engine will come out of the top if you split it at the tranny and the block


With todays smaller hoods and restricted access to eng bay, its getting more common to drop the engine out the bottom... remove usuially 4-6 subframe bolts... undo the struts and tierods from the spindles... and remove all wire harness and hoses... viola... eng assy loose... raise the car on the hoist and you have eng/trans on the ground... Now Ive been pulling my 94 engine/supercharger out the top each time but I vow that next time it comes out to do it out the bottom, I just need the car hoist

Have any of you had to do anything special to gain enough room to get the flywheel/flexplate to clear the tranny bellhousing? I was looking for a moment this evening and it looks like I only have an inch or so to work with between the inner frame and the front of the engine. Have you ever had to pull off the water pump? (2.5L engine)

Have any of you had to do anything special to gain enough room to get the flywheel/flexplate to clear the tranny bellhousing? I was looking for a moment this evening and it looks like I only have an inch or so to work with between the inner frame and the front of the engine. Have you ever had to pull off the water pump? (2.5L engine)


well you see I have a different animal... I have a Grand prix 3800 supercahrged engine in my GA... and just today I had to pull the tranny for a 1st gear issue... and yes I had to pull the engine and trans because there is no room in the engine bay to seperate the two inside like normal cars.. .the price you pay for stuffing big cubes in a small package... :)