97 SL2 Engine Removal Conficting Information

I need to remove the engine on my 97 SL2 with a manual trans. The Haynes and Chilton manuals seem to have conflicting information. Some of the threads here have added to the confusion. The question centers around the need to remove the trans and engine as an assembly. I would prefer to leave the trans in the car. I just don't want to fool around with removing the drive axles.


Is there a good “How-to” on engine removal that covers both an auto trans, and the manual trans.


Thanks

I think the confusion is because there are several procedures for doing this. The factory recommended method of engine removal is to unbolt the cradle and remove the engine and trans by lowering out the bottom instead of lifting it out the top. An alternative method allows engine only removal but only for automatic transaxles. Manual transaxles will give you clearance issues because you won't be able to slide the engine far enough away from the trans to be able to clear the input shaft. I have heard of engine only removals but these are by Saturn freaks who have literally done it dozens of times and have tons of experience working on them. Someone who hasn't done it before will be in for some major frustration. I would strongly recommend that you pull the engine and trans together. It will save you big headaches. Removing the drive axles really isn't that difficult if you have the tools for it. If you don't have the tools, spend the money and save yourself the aggravation.

Cat Fuzz
Thanks for the reply. May I presume that the problem with the manual trans is the input shaft clearing the pressure plate on removal and installation? I have read that removing all the pulleys will allow the engine to clear. I assume that also means the vibration damper. Any thougths on this option?

Here is a sight full of people more knowledgeable than I.

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=23


Register there and please use the search tool before posting. I know there are people there that have pulled motors without the trans coming out. A dude named 'Low Saturn' being one of them.

Easiest way:
Drop the engine cradle with the engine and tranny on it. Doing this bring down the Engine, tranny, axles, spindles power steering rack and its components. From there you can pull the entire thing from under the car, and then remove the engine. Axles will not be touched. Pulleys will not have to be delt with. This is how ive done every one of my engine swaps. Both using a lift, and in my driveway :)

RC1488: I may buy a Saturn SL2 with a manual tranny someday - so I would like to know; for dropping the drivline down & out, how high do you have to get the front of the car to be able to move the driveline out underneath? I would assume its done with the front wheels off. I dont think my homemade A-frame would be strong enough to lift the front of the car - so I would have to be jacking the body up via the sides of the underbody below the front door hinge area. As my driveway is gravel, I would have a sheet of 3/4" plywood under the driveline, the driveline sitting on another small sheet of 3/4" ply, and 2" steel tubes for rollers.
I pulled the engine & auto tranny as a unit from our 92 SL2 by removing the driveaxles and hoisting it out the top. In that case the driveaxles werent that hard to pry out.

All depends on personal preference. Personally i felt it was more of a hassle to deal with the pulleys in order to get the engine and tranny out the top. In order fot it to come out the bottom with the subframe you need about 34'' depending on the hieght of the "dolley" you use. The first time i did this i used a jack and kept doing each side in stages untill the bottome of the radiator was at the right hieght. The last time i did it i just used the engine hoist itself. Chained the front of the car to it and just lifted the front right up. Before you do the front, i suggest raising the back onto a small set of jack stands. This helps get to the required height while keeping the car alot more stable. Also be sure you have good sturdy jack stands for the front. If you want i believe i have some pictures of the car on stands for this specific operation. I can post them up if you would like :)

RC1488: Thanks for the feedback about taking the driveline out under the raised car. I may try it that way. I dont use jackstands though, due to my mud/gravel/mix driveway. I use pyramids of lumber, 6 x 6 chunks, then 4 x 4 chungs, etc. The jackstands arent as stable as I want on a non-paved surface, especially if there is rainy weather.

Ahh yess....big pieces of lumber is alot safer :)

Also, note that the exhuast needs to be taking into consideration. I have left the manifold on the car, but undid the 3 bolts holding the down pipe on. I then took the entire exahust off its hangars and pulled it all the way to the drivers side and tied it to the jack stand. I just had enough room with a little big of tugging (the ply wood i laid down on the dolley got caught on the down pipe)