preference on engine removal

[rockyracoon]

just trying to find out a concensus on how most guys remove em, in terms of
either, first pulling the tranny from below,pulling engine and tranny as a unit or leaving the trans in,and just disconnecting the converter bolts,and just pull the motor.I have always hesitated to leave the trans in,as my thinking is it is hard to get the engine and trans mated back up. that way.

 

[bnmc98]

I pull them as a unit, engine and trans for that reason.

 

[bdcardinal]

i always prefered to drop the engine and trans from the bottom while still connected to the k-member, always found it much easier to control.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I pull as one unit, and then install the engine only and go in and bolt up the trans later. Automatic cars i've installed as a unit as well. Much easier that way, but you'll need to remove the hood and get some nice jackstands and help.

A load leveler is recommended

 

[cmher18]

I just pull mine just the motor out the top. 2hr job. It make putting it back in a challenge but with help of a few guys its not bad..

 

[SaleenGT2001]

i always prefered to drop the engine and trans from the bottom while still connected to the k-member, always found it much easier to control.

dropping it out from the bottom is the easiest way. we dropped mine with the s/c having to be removed and everything else in less than one hour

 

[bdcardinal]

btw all teh techs at my work when working on mustangs pull from the bottom. i saw one use a fwd engine hanger to hold the motor as he dropped the k-member and then lower the car onto a pallet and then left the motorless car up in the air. took him longer to drain the coolant and oil than to pull the motor.

 

[SaleenGT2001]

i've always left the engine in the k member set 4 jack stands under the K and then lifted the car off it

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

With access to a lift, there's no reason not to pull the engine and trans out the bottom. Otherwise, I've pulled them as one from the top. It's a bit difficult to put them back that way, but it's doable. Given the choice, I'd pull them as one and reinstall separately. I tend to work on the car by myself though, so it just works out better that way.

 

[d98gt]

I pulled the motor out of my 98 from the top. The process really isn't difficult after looking back on it. I'll be reinstalling the motor from the bottom though now that there is room to actually lift the car and drop the entire suspension to do it that way.

 

[d90212]

 

[SaleenGT2001]

i HOPE that was a wrecked car being parted out

 

[d90212]

i HOPE that was a wrecked car being parted out

yes it is...bought the entire car for $800

 

[wmburns]

Question: if going in from above as a unit, how does everyone protect the plastic valve covers from being crushed/damaged by the chain?

There are the stupid expensive Ford brackets the extends the chain hooks eyes above the valve covers thus preventing damage. If the chains are connected directly to the heads, the the chain goes over the plastic valve covers. In my attempts, I was concerned about damaging the valve covers. Next, I had problems with the bolt interfering with the right hand hard AC lines.

I see on some of the pictures, a rag has been used to protect the valve covers from being scratched. However, isn't anyone concerned about the weight crushing the plastic valve covers?

Clearly the "from below" crowd have access to a lift. Is it safe to say that the non lift crowd is "from above" with an engine crane?

 

[d90212]

from the front....your actually suppose to remove the intake...and install a bar into the valley...this bar has a lift point thus not damaging your valve covers....

though...its more of get the job done safely without damage...anything goes...

 

[d98gt]

Clearly the "from below" crowd have access to a lift. Is it safe to say that the non lift crowd is "from above" with an engine crane?

I would say that is the case for the majority. It's possible to lift the car high enough with jackstands and the such in the garage, however the task was much easier for me & the friend to just lift the engine from the top with the hoist. I also left the transmission IN the car with the help of a transmission jack& stands.

 

[bnmc98]

I built a custom bracket that you can see in my previous pics. Cheap and effective, and you can remove and install the whole complete engine with manifold on without crushing the valve covers. Also it uses 12mm bolts that are much stronger.