Posted November 5, 200618 yr Any hints/tips that you've all picked up for removing an engine. Obviously I've read TTZD, but just wondered what you lot have learnt. Gonna try do it this weekend coming.
November 5, 200618 yr Jack the rear of the car up first, undo the propshaft and exhaust's when u have done all that u can at the rear ,lower it down then start on the front, One thing i learnt bigtime is how many breather pipes and electrical connections there are around the intake plenium, also some real nasty little gits under the plenuim sides and rear. Get a large hammer and a box of plasters and if you smoke plenty of fags. The plasters are for your knuckles, when they hit the sides use the hammer on the pavement, makes you feel much better. lol. Best of luck not easy.
November 5, 200618 yr Label EVERYTHING and put it in separate Zip lock bags.Label EVERY pipe and connector. Clever experienced spanner men dont need to do this but essential for amateurs. And even highly trained engineers use this system. My pal locally rebuilds aero engines for Rolls Royce. In that scenario EVERY nut, bolt etc goes in a separate bag with a unique reference number. Photograph every detail where it looks tricky (to you). Do full engine bay overhaul too when its out. brake pipes, hoses etc. Take your time, be methodical. Ensure you have good engine crane, lifting chains and axle stands. You will need to drop the crossmember to get the engine out.
November 5, 200618 yr im a full time mechanic, but always label everything when taking out this particular engine as i know when it comes out it may be for a while, and everybody tends to forget over time!! as i take each bolt out i make a board from polystyrene mat write something for each bolt on board then push bolt into board so it stays where you put it! sounds girly but ive never miplaced a bolt with this method!! never heard of dropping subframe to remove engine? always remove gearbox as its so much easier to disonnect all parts at back of engine! i used old seat belt to hoist engine with a buckle bolted to each side of plenumn where bracket for std boost solenoid is fitted!! good luck
November 5, 200618 yr do not take the box out with the engine as there is no need.leave it in the car and lower the crossmember by releasing the bolts and letting it dangle.i prefer to remove the plenum before removal but some people leave it on,its your choice.ive always taken the plenum off as the engines ive taken out needed rebuilding so it may aswell come off anyway.
November 6, 200618 yr Author Why do I need to drop the front cross member, I dont really want too if I dont have to as I just payed money to have all the tracking done. Im leaving the box in, so theres no need to touch any of the prop shaft!?! Im lifting on the plenum, so that will be staying in. Is it right that the alternator and p/s pump has to come off and cant come out with the engine?
November 6, 200618 yr The sump sits so tight to the crossmember that it wont come past.the air con and p/steering pump will need unbolting from their brackets and left dangling on the pipes.personally i remove the altenator as it does make it easier getting to the plug.
November 6, 200618 yr As you are lifting keep checking for anything still attached to the engine. Most common are the earth strap (back of the passenger side head), Starter motor feed (back of drivers side head) and oil pressure switch lead. Remove all 3 auxiliaries (alt, PS pump, aircon compressor). If you loosen the SF at all then be prepared to get the car re-aligned afterwards. Better to remove g'box and leave it under the car then just lift the engine straight out....
November 7, 200618 yr yep much better to drop gearbox out, seen as its the easy part of the job, and saves all the alignments to be redonealso it saves you bashing the clutch cover fingerson input shaft when refitting engine to gearbox with gearbox in situ(clutch judder) richard
November 7, 200618 yr Author Fookin ell, this is sounding like a nightmare. Nothing like when I helped my dad take out his mexico engine! So if I remove the g'box theres no need to drop the crossmember? Who wants to come and help, lol?!?!?!?!
November 7, 200618 yr split the gearbox and just pull the engine to much fookin about lifting it all out whilst its sat vertical pissing gearbox oil everywhere sod that!
November 7, 200618 yr Author split the gearbox and just pull the engine to much fookin about lifting it all out whilst its sat vertical pissing gearbox oil everywhere sod that! So now I can leave the box in and the crossmember and just lift the engine out?
November 7, 200618 yr No! Remove the gearbox! It will take you longer to remove the engine if you don't ;) Greg, please tell me you drain the fluids from box and engine before removing? ;)
November 7, 200618 yr Any hints/tips that you've all picked up for removing an engine. Obviously I've read TTZD, but just wondered what you lot have learnt. Gonna try do it this weekend coming. Get someone else to do it or.....
November 8, 200618 yr Author Get someone else to do it or..... If somone else wants to come and do it I dont mind!!! Otherwise im doing it myself. I spend everyday stripping down and fixing million pound CNC machinery, so a little 300zx engine shouldnt be that bad. But theres always little things that people know that have done it before that I dont. Thats all I wanted to know.
November 8, 200618 yr Author Thanks for the offer mate, but I really dont wnna make you drive miles!!!
November 8, 200618 yr Author Well if you really dont mind mate. I would really appreciate it!!!! Im starting on friday, gearbox out, exhausts and all cables etc... I can get at on the engine. Then lift on saturday I guess.
Any hints/tips that you've all picked up for removing an engine.
Obviously I've read TTZD, but just wondered what you lot have learnt.
Gonna try do it this weekend coming.