installing engine question

[tgf05354]

I'm picking up my engine in a few days and will be installing it. As I am working by myself, I was wondering if it would be easier to do the engine without the tranny attach. My reasoning is that there it would weigh a lot less and be easier to maneuver. I wouldn't think mounting the tranny after would be too tough. Any pros and cons to this? I appreciate any suggestions.

Tom

[Kafka_Esquire]

I am first-time builder. Last weekend, I installed a 306 with AOD with the help of my wife and 16-year old daughter (one told me what to do, while the other helped me by eyeballing it as it was lowered. We used and a Pittsburgh 2-ton shop crane with engine leveler. Take your time, and it goes right in (only needed to use the BFH once).

Brian

Oops.. thought I was responding to a Roadster post; not an 818. To quote Gilda Radner (Emily Litella): "Never Mind."

[JAubin]

I installed my motor by myself. Few tips:

Be sure to remove everything they mention - turbo coolant overflow tank, and I removed the uppipe as well since it gave me a bit more clearance
Pad the frame to make sure you don't ding it.
I kept the transmission on, with a thick ratchet strap attached to the leveler, being able to angle it down a bit helped get things in place easier.
I have the smaller Harbor Freight Pittsburg shop crane...I think it's the 1 Ton. It just about made it, but the mount for the hydraulic piston hit the frame before it was fully in place...had to do some tricky maneuvering to get it to work from there.
Also ran into an issue w/ the trans mount holes not being entirely in the right spot, had to grind one of those out a few mm.

Good luck!

[mistasherm]

I installed my motor by myself. Few tips:

Be sure to remove everything they mention - turbo coolant overflow tank, and I removed the uppipe as well since it gave me a bit more clearance
Pad the frame to make sure you don't ding it.
I kept the transmission on, with a thick ratchet strap attached to the leveler, being able to angle it down a bit helped get things in place easier.
I have the smaller Harbor Freight Pittsburg shop crane...I think it's the 1 Ton. It just about made it, but the mount for the hydraulic piston hit the frame before it was fully in place...had to do some tricky maneuvering to get it to work from there.
Also ran into an issue w/ the trans mount holes not being entirely in the right spot, had to grind one of those out a few mm.

Good luck!

Joe - what exactly did you do during the "tricky maneuvering" phase? I tried to install my engine this weekend and it came up short (using the HF 1 ton crane). Thought if I turned the crane and came in sideways it might make it or I would get one of my pals to just "gently" muscle it forward over the engine mounts but I would be interested in your approach.
Thanks.

Ty

[tgf05354]

I probably should mention that the transmission is not yet attached to the engine. I also have a 2 ton hoist which has a pretty long reach to it.

[JAubin]

Joe - what exactly did you do during the "tricky maneuvering" phase? I tried to install my engine this weekend and it came up short (using the HF 1 ton crane). Thought if I turned the crane and came in sideways it might make it or I would get one of my pals to just "gently" muscle it forward over the engine mounts but I would be interested in your approach.
Thanks.

Ty

Heh....The tricky maneuvering I left vague because it was sketchy. So the cylinder mount was hitting on the rearmost frame member of the car, and I really wanted to get it installed, just needed to go forward another inch or so. I ended up jacking the back of the hoist and putting the rearmost wheels on some 2X4s, so it would clear the frame and be able to move forward a bit more. That and I think I cranked the leveler forward to pitch the motor down which pushed it out a bit more also. The motor/trans combo is I believe just over 400 lbs. so it's not at the limit of that crane, but shifting the weight forward made me nervous. It was fine, just something I would proceed with caution doing.

tgf0- Plenty of people have installed just the motor, I preferred to get them both in as I think it all sits in better once the trans is on, and lifting from the middle of hte assembly worked out better for the crane I have. I thought it would be easier to get everything mounted together before going into the frame too, but didn't try it any other way. Some 4X4s to put the sides of the motor on, and then just slid the trans on (sitting on a wheel dolley) and done.

[STiPWRD]

I mounted the engine by itself and the problem is that it will want to tilt forward on the mounts and hit the frame. Looking back, I should have attached the transmission, that way it would've been much more balanced. It's doable, but not ideal.
5801358014

[flynntuna]

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1acwkcNJaC0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PmrAsdx60Y


I found easier to have the front of the car higher than the rear.
And having the tranny attached gives you a handle to move the engine left-right and up- down when maneuvering it in.

[tgf05354]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I will mount the transmission first, raise the front and give it a go.

[Mitch Wright]

I also installed engine with trans by myself with a Harbor Fright Crane, removed the degas tank, header, up pipe and turbo, piece of cake. I did drill an additional hole to move the crain arm out an additional 6 inch's.

[flynntuna]

Found a couple pictures....
Don't remember who's build.

[Pearldrummer7]

I mounted the engine by itself and the problem is that it will want to tilt forward on the mounts and hit the frame. Looking back, I should have attached the transmission, that way it would've been much more balanced. It's doable, but not ideal.
5801358014

Echo this, I used a 2x4 so the motor didn't rest again the frame. That spaced it just right to sit "nicely" in the motor mounts.