Replacing Engine and Trans together.

Jmrec100 · #1 02-15-2010, 10:51 PM

Engine blew on my cavalier. I bought a used engine and its trans. The engine and trans were shipped separated. I'm going through the Haynes manual and it is saying to remove whole bunch of things. It says I can pull out the whole motor and the trans together in one piece. Just have to make clearance.

I removed or unbolted from the motor all the obvious like filter housing, alternator, cooling fan, starter, AC Compressor , etc
Now have to remove the master brake cylinder from the power booster, disconnect the fuel lines, cables and left over electrical wires,...

Haynes manual says I have to remove the crankshaft pulley? Really? Is it really necessary to take off the crankshaft pulley? Seems the motor I bought has it on. The new trans was separated from the new motor. Will the old motor and trans pull out in one piece attached to each other if the crankshaft pulley is left on?
I haven't done this in a while, never with my Cavalier. Any tips or pointers while I'm in process. Should I bolt the new engine and trans together before dropping it in.
I'd appreciate any help. Thanks

consultIII · #2 02-16-2010, 12:30 AM

remove cv shafts, mac struts and unbolt the engine cradle and drop the cradle, engine and trans out the bottom as 1 unit. this is how the shops do it...easy with a hoist as you can raise the car up so might be hard to get the car high enough with just jack stands.

Jmrec100 · #3 02-16-2010, 03:04 PM

I was aware of dropping it out from the bottom. I'm just a at home mechanic so lifting the car high enough just isn't practical. I may try jacking up the jackstands up on large wood beams then see if I can do the drop under. But looks like going to pull from the top. Any suggestions doing it from the top.

Jmrec100 · #4 03-03-2010, 04:21 PM

Thanks for your reply on removing the engine.
Can the engine be pulled from the top? I am making up block supports to place my jackstands and lift the car up high enough to install the replaement engine and trans together. Seems like the better way to install it. I am lifting just the front and it seems it will get pretty high! Should I lift the back end as well?

PlanetDude · #5 03-03-2010, 05:48 PM

Looks like I`m going to be pulling one myself...

Any advice if going through the top? Leave engine and trans together, or seperate?

I don`t have access to a hoist or anything that would help me lift the car off the subframe.

Tips? Advice?

Jmrec100 · #6 03-04-2010, 05:53 PM

Buy a hoist thru ebay? or any other listing. I looked for a few days and found someone within 20 miles of me and picked it up. Paid $60 for it and the load leverer. I hooked up the hoist to different points on the engine. I have 3 floor jacks and am using them to lift the carup on jack stands with the hoist acting as a secondary support until its secure on the stands. I am a little paranoid about dropping the car when the front wheels are off. Figure the hoist will help while I position the stands. I was hoping to get more advice myself.
I can't give much advice except to take pictures as you disassemble it. And lots of zip lock bags and masking tape. Label, label , label. A few labels came off but the pics showed me where they went. So far, I have all cables, wires, lines etc disconnected. I was going to try to separate the engine and pull it from the top. Then see what's there. Then pull the trans. At that point I should know about dropping my replacement engine in thru the top or from the bottom. So many things took away the time to finish this project.

consultIII · #7 03-04-2010, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmrec100

Thanks for your reply on removing the engine.
Can the engine be pulled from the top? I am making up block supports to place my jackstands and lift the car up high enough to install the replaement engine and trans together. Seems like the better way to install it. I am lifting just the front and it seems it will get pretty high! Should I lift the back end as well?

talked to a friend who has tried that way. Said he would never do it that way again. the eng and trans must be separated...he got it out the top but said putting it back was next to impossible.

Jmrec100 · #8 03-05-2010, 03:53 PM

OK. Thanks. So separate the trans and install it separate. Then bolt them up after its in place? Is that right? And pullit from the top? And Install it from the top also?
Appreciate the feedback

coltman · #9 08-09-2010, 09:54 AM

we did my engine from the top, it wasn't all easy, had to do some manual muscle shifting , but got engine and trans out together, put my trans on the bought engine and replaced it the same why we took it out. took two days to get it done. All we had was a chery picker and two smart young guys.

Jmrec100 · #10 08-14-2010, 03:01 AM

I pulled the engine out the top too. It really did come out pretty well except for one minor headache. Helped alot with the load leverer. Used 2 set of chains and attached at what I thought was the lifting bracket and through the power steering threaded hole on one side. Then through the manifold thread and some other bracket. Then with the hoist and lift, put the engine almost at 70 degree angle and lifted out from the compartment. Then levered it when clear of the trans mount. But one problem. I mounted the chains too long on the engine and had to lower the car to pull it over the front. Still about 3/4 inch too low. I ended up twisting both chains and putting a bolt thru the chains and pushing it over the front with minor scrapes. So first thing now I will use as short a chain as I need. Pretty funny now. It wasn't at the time because had the engine cleared of the compartment but at the full lift of the hoist. Needed another 3 inches more. Couldn't drop it back down.
So now I put in my replacement tomorrow. I'm doing it solo since I can't get any help. Takes longer but .... I need suggestions on lining up the mounts for installing. Should I raise the car and install from the bottom instead?
Thanks

Jmrec100 · #11 08-24-2010, 04:31 AM

I bolted the trans and engine together and dropped it in from the top. Went so smooth. Do have to use a load lever and tip the trans down , clear the driver side lip and lower into the awaiting engine mounts . And do watch the backside against the firewall and clear the sensor off the throttle body. That is the only place I had to adjust for. Went so smooth and easy. And I did it solo. Can't say enough, get a load leveler.

And I bubble packed the radiator. Next time, I'd bubble pack the firewall too. Use a load lever.

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