Removing the lump

[willworkfore30s]

I promise I did search but I didn't find quite what I was looking for.

I am doing this in the grass beside my house, I have an engine hoist and two jack stands, no lift, no leveler.  I need to pull out the engine that is in the car and put back in the new engine.  What I am looking for is a sweet and simple step by step on the best way to remove the old engine.  I have the bentley and factory manuals downloaded but I want input from real people that don't have every tool known to man and are still able to get the job done.  I like to have step-by-steps when I do any major stuff to minimize screwing up stuff.

Thanks in advance

[DesktopDave]

I did something similar with a pair of M20s...I used a lift connected to the front loop and a very heavy-duty (22,000#) nylon ratchet strap connected to the rear loop (in the block).  The ratchet strap allowed me to tilt the motor very effectively.

I wouldn't advise this setup for everyone...you must be very careful of the load shifting or snagging - the nylon doesn't have much abrasion resistance and the ratchet isn't rated for high tensile loading.  Given that the motor & tranny combined weighs about 600 pounds, a little movement can become very dangerous very quickly.

Here's how I'd do it:
Disconnect the battery, as you'll be playing with the unfused part of the battery harness.
Remove the hood, put it somewhere safe & away from the wind.
Drain & remove radiator, shroud and clutch fan
Unbolt guibo, tranny mounts (or subframe) & motor mounts (from either the top or bottom).
The shift lever connector is a PITA.  I'd unbolt the shift lever rear mount above the drive shaft, finagle that linkage "bitch clip" out & drop it the rest of the way.
Unbolt the clutch slave, leave it dangle
Disconnect the starter & alternator
Unbolt the A/C compressor, P/S pump & leave them dangling
Disconnect the coils, ground strap, vac line to the booster, fuel lines, etc. Every connection to the motor.  DON'T FORGET THE GROUND STRAP(S)!!  I missed one once & it's strong enough to lift the car off the jacks, believe it or not.  After you do something like that, it'll have enough internal damage to ignite when you turn on the starter next time...take my word for it.

I hope I didn't forget anything...it's all pretty obvious, nothing really tricky about it.  Don't let the motor mount arm snag the P/S line either...a spectacular amount of ATF spews out of there...

Alternatively, drop the subframe & use the lift to pull the car over the motor.  I'd go out the top myself.

[willworkfore30s]

So I was going to use the tranny thats in the car but now I am thinking about using the one that came with my motor.  Everything seems to be there except all the bolts.  There is one at the bottom I couldn't get out, it looks like a star maybe.  But after checking it I think I will just use it.  I have been told its easier to remove and install both items still attached?

[DesktopDave]

It's easier to pull the engine & tranny as a unit.  If you want to do a clutch job, now would be a great time.  The upper bolts are difficult to remove with the motor installed.  The clutch also has to be re-centered if you take it apart.

The bell housing bolts are all reverse torx  bolts (six-point star).  They can be removed by a standard six-point socket if you're careful.  I think there are three different sizes on the housing, I don't recall the sizes.  IIRC they're labeled E-[size in mm] unlike regular socket torx, labeled T-[size in mm].

[willworkfore30s]

So it looks like I am going to be bringing this home tomorrow.  Hoping to have the engine out in the next week or two.  Any last minute advice is much appreciated, as is the previously given advice.

[willworkfore30s]

Well my time frame was a little off, but a las, the engine is finally out of the car.  I would say it took me about 3 days working 3-4 hours by myself to get the job done.  For a first timer I don't think thats too bad.

The car has gone up for sale and been taken down a couple of times.  But as of right now I am believe I am going to go ahead and put the new motor in it even though I don't currently have a title for it.  I figure if all else fails I can get a title through an indemnity bond once I get it running.