1998 2.4L engine removal?

[J-Ri]

I need to remove the engine from my G/A. I know the service manual says to remove it and the transaxle together from below the vehicle. Looking at it, there's no reason it can't come out from above if I seperate the transaxle first... there's definately room if I remove the intake manifold. Has anyone else thought there was room from the top and tried it? I'll have to swap the engine out at home in my garage, so I won't have a hoist, which is why I'm wondering about doing it from above. My garage has a load bearing wall in the center, so although it is two stalls, there's very little room to do stuff from the side of the vehicle, such as having a jack under each side...

Or, should I just part it out? Even with the work I have done to it I have less than $2,000 in it, and it is starting to rust a bit around the rear wheels, and it needs 4 tires, and I don't especially care for the color (purple), and the HVAC plastic was previously destroyed and I'm not sure how much longer the plastic I didn't replace will last, plus I would much rather have something RWD with a V8. What would you do?

[wafrederick]

Automatic or manual transmission?You can pull it from the top if it is an automatic.Another thing and don't do this: turn the crank backwards.Turn the crank as you are tightening a bolt only or you will bend valves if you turn it backwards.Pull the crank pulley and mount from the block so it clears.

[xeroinfinity]

All these engine will come out the top.
The hardest part IMO is those damn flywheel bolts.

I was going to pull my 3.4 out the top if you cam was bad, but I got lucky and it didnt need pulled.

So why are you needing to remove the engine ??

[J-Ri]

It sounds like there's a noise in the bottom end now... Not 100% sure I have to pull it, but I'm somewhere in the high 90%'s... The original noise is still there, even after I got the tensioner in right. I listened around various parts of the engine with a stethoscope, and the loudest noise seems to be coming from the intake camshaft area. But the noise doesn't sound like it could be the followers or cam, and I know everything inside the timing chain cover is right now, so it's gotta be resonating from somewhere else. I even pulled the P/S pump to eliminate that as a possibility. I'm gonna drive it home and pull the head back off when I get around to it before I pull the engine. What ever damage was done is done, and since I'm so sure it's the bottom end, I'm just assuming I need a new engine.

For now I'm thinking pretty seriously about buying a new G5 or G6, I want a car that I know has been maintained well, as opposed to going to repair something really easy and finding out someone else has already tried, but screwed it up really bad and masking-taped the broken pieces back together and left other pieces just hanging there. On that topic, I asked in the G6 forum last night whether there was a V6/manual trans option in the G6, does anyone here happen to know? The build-your-own on the Pontic web site doesn't show it, but I was told by a GM representative that the G6 does have the option If there's not, I'll be going with the G5 2.4 ecotec M/T and fixing and selling my G/A to help pay for it

[xeroinfinity]

I think the G6 does have an option for the 6spd but its with the big 3.9L or the SC one. Not sure exactly how it went I read it some where in the G6/G5 forums.

And good luck with your engine!

... I realy hate those noisey 2.4s.

[J-Ri]

Thanks. I saw a 6-spd auto, but didn't see any manuals. And with gas prices I want something smaller than 3.9L. I'm thinking VERY seriously about buying a Chevy Cobalt SS now. They have a 2.0 supercharged ecotec that puts out 260 HP @ 5,400(? lower 5ks) and 260 lb-ft torque at 2,000 RPM. Looking at the G6s, the 3.6 VVT has 252 HP and has a lot more weight to pull with it. At $24,040 for the options I want, it's pricey but I think I'll have some fun in it Since it's that much It'll be a summer only car so it doesn't rust apart in 6 years, I'll keep my G/A for winter so I'll still be around the G/A forum