97 Lesabre engine swap

[phelps1076]

Two questions, Im pulling the moter out of my lesabre but leaving the trans in for the swap. Does anyone have a suggestion for removing the engine to bell housing bolt located in the rear of the motor. Its almost impossible to access. And then the other thing is, can I use the harmonic off of the old motor because the new one does not have one. They are both K motors. the new one is out of a 2000 monte.

[Alibi]

The balancers should be ok to swap. The last bolt...umm..yeah, it is fun to get at. You need several long extensions and you will have to access it from the hold in the tansmission to motor mount. I think it is a 15mm socket.

I get to do the same tommorow

[phelps1076]

Thanks, thats what I figured. Looks like I will need about a 18" to 24" extension. Or 6"x3 LOL

[Alibi]

The balancers should be ok to swap. The last bolt...umm..yeah, it is fun to get at. You need several long extensions and you will have to access it from the hold in the tansmission to motor mount. I think it is a 15mm socket.

I get to do the same tommorow

[phelps1076]

Alibi
Got the bolt out, thanks. What do you use to split the block and the tranny.
The last bolt alingnment pin just wont break loose. I have pried and then slipped in large screwdrivers as I go along. but the area where the last bolt was just wont seperate. Any thoughts.

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by phelps1076

Alibi
Got the bolt out, thanks. What do you use to split the block and the tranny.
The last bolt alingnment pin just wont break loose. I have pried and then slipped in large screwdrivers as I go along. but the area where the last bolt was just wont seperate. Any thoughts.

Hello

Are you sure that you got "ALL" of the bolts out? From what you're saying, it sounds like there is still a bolt holding them together. Look all the way around. Does the book say how many bolts it should have?

Dan

[phelps1076]

Dude I count 6 bolts, including the last one that is threaded in the opposite direction. When i look on the replacement motor, there is also only six. But it feels like something is holding it back. Does anyone know if maybe there is a transaxle to motor bracket or perhaps another bolt that goes through anywhere. I have removed a few transmissions before. And this one just doesnt feel like its free. I cant believe Im having this much trouble with this engine pull.
Thanks in advance.

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by phelps1076

Dude I count 6 bolts, including the last one that is threaded in the opposite direction. When i look on the replacement motor, there is also only six. But it feels like something is holding it back. Does anyone know if maybe there is a transaxle to motor bracket or perhaps another bolt that goes through anywhere. I have removed a few transmissions before. And this one just doesnt feel like its free. I cant believe Im having this much trouble with this engine pull.
Thanks in advance.

That isn't the answer I was looking for! Have you removed the 3 bolts that hold the converter to the "flywheel"? Have you removed the starter. I don't see how either of the above would prevent you from seperating the two....

I changed the trannie on my 97 last fall, after I got all of the bolts out it came apart fairly easy.

I hope you get it figured out.

Regards

Dan

[phelps1076]

Hey Dan, thanks for your input. Right now Im really frustrated. Let me give you some more details. Yes the 3 flywheel bolts are out, the six bell housing to engine bolts are out, and the starter is out. The starter side of the bellhousing will pry apart about an 1/8 or so. I am leaving the trans in the car, so of course it is still bolted up to subframe etc. If thats all the bolts that you can recall then I guess maybe I just have a SOB. Im about ready to pull both engine and trans, but I really didnt feel like screwing around with the CV shafts and everything that comes with it. But hell for the time I got in it I could of done it by now.
Mark

[spinne1]

Originally Posted by phelps1076

Hey Dan, thanks for your input. Right now Im really frustrated. Let me give you some more details. Yes the 3 flywheel bolts are out, the six bell housing to engine bolts are out, and the starter is out. The starter side of the bellhousing will pry apart about an 1/8 or so. I am leaving the trans in the car, so of course it is still bolted up to subframe etc. If thats all the bolts that you can recall then I guess maybe I just have a SOB. Im about ready to pull both engine and trans, but I really didnt feel like screwing around with the CV shafts and everything that comes with it. But hell for the time I got in it I could of done it by now.
Mark

If all the bolts are out, I can think of nothing that would hold it in that good. But, that said, you need to remove weight from the joint by partially raising the engine with a hoist, which will often do most of the separating for you (but don't raise it very much as it could crack your bell housing).

[Alibi]

Did you get the transmission to motor mount off? Should have been the same piece of metal where you slid the long extension into, it should either be 13mm or 15mm bolts. Otherwise, the 6 bell housing bolts and the starter have to come off, the 3 bolts on the flywheel are off.

Assuming you have all those out, then you would probably need to work the motor (on a hoist of some sort, I assume) back and forth and see if someone can try to pry between the motor and trans while it is being wigggled. That may do it.

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by phelps1076

Hey Dan, thanks for your input. Right now Im really frustrated. Let me give you some more details. Yes the 3 flywheel bolts are out, the six bell housing to engine bolts are out, and the starter is out. The starter side of the bellhousing will pry apart about an 1/8 or so. I am leaving the trans in the car, so of course it is still bolted up to subframe etc. If thats all the bolts that you can recall then I guess maybe I just have a SOB. Im about ready to pull both engine and trans, but I really didnt feel like screwing around with the CV shafts and everything that comes with it. But hell for the time I got in it I could of done it by now.
Mark

Mark

How are you planning on supporting the trannie when the engine isn't connected to it? Like the other two guys said. Wiggle, lift, and see if you can get it apart.

Halfshafts really aren't that hard to deal with. When I pulled my trannie, I poped both ball joints (r/l), removed both calipers(to gain additional movement for the strut when I pulled the axel out of the trannie, keeping it in the bearing) and pulled the spline out of the trannie using a prybar. Then I tied them out of the way. (I'm not saying that you need to pull the halfshafts, just giving an overview).

Regards

Dan

[phelps1076]

Alibi
I think thats it, the engine to trans bolt was a 18mm. I have not removed a 13-15 mm from same area as the extension was used. Is that 13-15mm bolt visible. ( do you access it the same way with the long extension. I am going to pick up a mirror to take a look inbetween the trans and the engine. So what your saying is after the starter and after the flywheel and after the 6 bolts are remove from the bell housing I am still missing that 13-15 mm bolt ?

[Alibi]

Ok, there are four bolts on the mount. Two are 18mm (I think) that attach to the engine. The other two are attached to the transmission and are either 13mm or 15mm, don't remember which off the top of my head. They were pretty easy to spot from up on a lift but I would assume that you have it up on stands? Shouldn't be hidden too bad either way...Umm...I don't have a picture though as that would be most helpful.

The mount, as you know, had the hole in it for the extension and is on the passenger side of the car but it may be difficult to get at with the cv axle still in place so you may want to remove just that one axle to get at it if you can't otherwise.

Umm...pictures...anyone have a picture handy?

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by phelps1076

Alibi
I think thats it, the engine to trans bolt was a 18mm. I have not removed a 13-15 mm from same area as the extension was used. Is that 13-15mm bolt visible. ( do you access it the same way with the long extension. I am going to pick up a mirror to take a look inbetween the trans and the engine. So what your saying is after the starter and after the flywheel and after the 6 bolts are remove from the bell housing I am still missing that 13-15 mm bolt ?

Mark

I got the bolt that faces the pass side by a long extension(s) through the wheel well after pulling the tire, and engine mount. It is very tight in there.
I believe I droped the Y pipe too.

Regards

Dan