Another heart transplant

Carolyn · August 14, 2017, 17:34

The supercharger car is getting a fresh engine. Got one ready on the stand, so out with the old and in with the new. Herewith my quicky engine dropping method..

shnazzle · August 14, 2017, 18:17

I like that method. That's what I'll employ when I have to rebuild mine

m1tch · August 14, 2017, 18:28

Tempted to try that method when I drop my engine in the future, guessing it's just a case of disconnecting pipes and linkages and then unbolting shocks and the rear subframe?

Carolyn · August 14, 2017, 18:38

Quote from: "m1tch"Tempted to try that method when I drop my engine in the future, guessing it's just a case of disconnecting pipes and linkages and then unbolting shocks and the rear subframe?

Pretty much. The link from the chassis to the hub is unbolted at the hub end. Earth wires disconnected, loom disconnected from ECU, hoses (just one end..) so inlet manifold, throttle body, alternator all stay on the engine. If you have aircon, unbolt the compressor from the block, take off the electrical connector from the loom, and leave the compressor connected to its system.

jvanzyl · August 14, 2017, 21:03

how high does the car have to be to do that? Is it feasible with the car backed up onto ramps initially and then given a slight helping life with a crane? Or is this essentially a full on car 4 post life procedure?

The Other Stu · August 14, 2017, 23:37

Um, what was wrong with the old one?

Carolyn · August 15, 2017, 03:42

John: As I have lift, I haven't tried it by picking the car up any other way, but Jonbill did it without a lift, so he's the one to ask about that.

Stu, It wasn't a happy little engine. I bought the car very cheap, knowing it had engine problems, got it running and played with the supercharger. Always new it would need an engine job at some point. As to exactly what's wrong, I'll know when I take it apart.... judging by the slightly milky oil, It might be the head gasket.

jonbill · August 15, 2017, 07:39

Yeah, I did mine like this with just the crane and axle stands.
From memory, I had to separate the engine from the subframe & driveshafts while under the car and pull the subframe and hubs out to the side before rolling the lifted car forward to free the engine.

Carolyn · August 15, 2017, 10:15

If you think about it... The tallest bit is the engine. No matter what method you use, you still have to get the engine out from under the car. I drop mine onto a dolly, which adds about 150 mm to the height. if you don't use a dolly you don't have to lift the car quite as high, but dragging it all out from under is much harder.

My point is - the method has little to do with how high you have to lift a car to get an engine out.

jvanzyl · August 15, 2017, 10:41

Fair enough - well with all my lovely free time now I'll be building my dolly to start with. I'm hopefully going to be able to make something that allows the sump to sit about 2cm max off the floor (so basically a dolly platform with a nice hole in the middle!)

Carolyn · August 15, 2017, 10:47

Quote from: "jvanzyl"Fair enough - well with all my lovely free time now I'll be building my dolly to start with. I'm hopefully going to be able to make something that allows the sump to sit about 2cm max off the floor (so basically a dolly platform with a nice hole in the middle!)

Now that's a very good idea. You need to design for the bottom of the gearbox too, a little trickier because of its odd shape, but definitely doable.

shnazzle · August 15, 2017, 11:02

Or... Drain and remove the sump on the car? Bit messier but..

Carolyn · August 15, 2017, 11:15

Quote from: "shnazzle"Or... Drain and remove the sump on the car? Bit messier but..

That will not gain much, 'cos of the gearbox and the crank pulley... I really like John's dolly idea. However, I see no reason why, with a crane, jack-stands and, maybe some wooden blocks, one can't lift the car high enough. Just requires a bit of thought and a methodical approach. You might have to block under the front wheels as well, to avoid grounding the front??

shnazzle · August 15, 2017, 11:46

Fair enough.
With regards to front. I suppose if you're going through the effort of removing an engine... Removing the front bumper is small fry s:)

s:)

jvanzyl · August 15, 2017, 14:06

LOL - I wonder how many of us have kept raising the rear and wondered what the cruching sound was.... I could totally see myself in that category!

m1tch · August 16, 2017, 16:55

Have seen it done by using one of those bike lifts - could use one of those instead of a dolly and use it to lower the engine/assembly down in 1 piece and then use the engine crane to lift the rear up (with the front wheels on ramps) and wheel it out - could perhaps also use a gearbox jack?

You shouldn't need to remove the front bumper if you just put the front wheels on ramps?