engine drop

[Vintage914Racer]

I need to have some work done to my 54 pre-A and may try dropping the engine with the help of a friend. How difficult is it? I have never removed an engine before.

[Jump2xs]

Not terribly difficult. Jack stands and safety blocking are needed to raise the rear end--Ramps/platform to rest the wheels on are a bonus. You will also need a floor jack that can raise at least 17" You then disconnect or remove gas line, throttle rod, heater ducts, heater rods, then 4 nuts and bolts holding the engine. The top right one will require you lie on your back and hug the transaxel with your right arm and reach over the top to the bolt above the starter. Your buddy can then loosen the nut from above. Use floor jack to support the engine before loosening all the bolts and to slide the engine off the trans and main shaft.
I've done it alone many times but it takes longer--- about 45 minutes from the first stroke of the floor jack to hand washing.

[id10t]

Easy. Heck, even I the mechanical idiot coulda helped you do it when I was in Minn. for thanksgiving!

You'll want to know about the trick of putting a hose clamp around the head of the bolt in the upper right corner (looking from the back end to the front) to keep it from rotating - the hose clamp screw will catch on the starter and keep it from turning, allowing you to tighten/loosen it no prob from the engine side.

And while it is out change your #1 and #3 sparkplugs, and hte starter bushing whether you need to or not. Easy to do with the engine out, less than $10 in parts, and a *royal* pain to do wiht the engine in.

[Vintage914Racer]

thanks for the input

[thegeck]

you're very knowledgable. I'll come to you when I get my porche

[Vintage914Racer]

I'm going to attempt it in the next week or so with a more mechanically inclined buddy. Out of curiousity is there a preferred repair manual for 356s out there somewhere that I should purchase?

[id10t]

Yup. If you aren't a mechanic (like me) then John Muir's "Idiots guide to keepign your VW alive forever" is *very* useful - its got all the what to dos and how to do its, but it is full of wrong numbers (valve clearance, etc). You'll also want a copy of Elfrinks Technical Manual for the 356. And possibly a copy of Ken Ball's "356 A B C". I don't use my Elfrinks much, but the other 2 are just kept in the garage.

[Vintage914Racer]

So I have everything pretty much disconnected and am ready to remove the engine bolts/nuts. I know there are four to be removed, but I see more than four where the tranny mates to the engine. Any enlightenment?

I would also assume the rear engine tin needs to be removed?

[id10t]

You may need to remove the back shelf or parts of it to get it to come out easily...

But undoing the engine is just 4 bolts. 17mm IIRC. The rest of what you see are for the trans/clutch/etc. Get the engine supported, undo the 4 bolts, pull engine to the rear a few inches and its off/disconnected. Then its just a matter of angling and pushing back and forth to get the engine down and out. You'll want the car raised, but not on an angle. You'll want to watch hte heater horns (disconnect heater control rods too!) and you'll need to tilt the engine to get the horns past the torsion bars.

[Vintage914Racer]

Its official...the engine is out. Thanks for answering my questions. While multiple people told me it would take 45 minutes, it took me roughly 2 hours with a competent tech. Everything leading up to the removal was staightforward, except for finding which of the 4 bolts actually removed the engine. The 2 or 3 writeups I had were very specific up to the point where each essentially said "remove the bolts" and drop the engine.

[id10t]

Now as long as it is out, before it goes back in, be sure to change the #3 sparkplug (such a PITA while engine is in) and your starter bushing (another $3 part that is a PITA to take care of with engine in).