How in the world do I do this?

jwmc1 · jwmc1's Garage

I am trying to get my engine in....but I cannot get the fan to clear the rear sheet metal. Everytime it clears it, the engine is too far forward to mate with the transmission, everytime it is the right distance from the transmission the fan won't clear the sheet metal and I can't raise the engine enough....

osidak · 04-05-2005, 04:32 AM

Do it in steps. raise the engine a little and engage the transmission - push engine forward and continue to raise.

jwmc1 · jwmc1's Garage

What do you mean "engage the transmission?"

Oh Haha · 04-05-2005, 04:50 AM

You might want to pull the trans out at this point. Mine went back together very easy on the florr. Putting the whole trans/engine assembly in may be easier. Just a thought.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Are you installing the engine separately from the transmission?

It's way easier to put them together first. Once you have them mated together, install the engine/tranny as one unit.

Raise the tranny end up and guide it into position into the tunnel opening and then raise the engine up to the mounts. Be watchful of the vacuum liines and other hoses/wires while you're raising the engine and don't forget to connect the transmission grounding strap.

Randy

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

What a great idea, Wayne!!!

Randy

jwmc1 · jwmc1's Garage

How do you take the transmission out? Is it a simple matter of removing the mounts?

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

You need to open the access cover that sits on top of the tunnel, under the carpet, behind the front seats and disconnect the shift coupler. You'll also have to disconnect the speedometer cable/wire that runs through there and out to the tranny. Once you have it disconnected, put a jack underneath the transmission and remove the mount bolts. You should then be able to move the tranny towards the rear of the car and slide it out of the tunnel. Once it clears the tunnel, lower the tranny and move it over to the engine and mate it up.

It's nowhere near the weith of the engine, but it still pretty heavy. You can probably lift the thing if you wanted to.

Randy

Tim Hancock · 04-05-2005, 05:41 AM

John, it is possible to mate with the trans still in car. You did disconnect the shift linkage right? If not, the trans maybe hanging on the shift shaft that sticks into your tunnel. This might keep the trans from hanging low enough to allow mating with the engine. If this is the case you need to make sure you did not damage the shaft. I am sure it would be easier to mate the two with both out of the car, but I just did what you are trying to do last fall with my '79 SC, so I know it is possible.

Make sure to study the throwout bearing/yoke arrangement before attempting to mate. I initially had trouble with mine eventually I figured it out though. once you have the engine started onto the mounting studs, you will need to peek into the gap and manipulate the throwout yoke to properly engage the throwout bearing.

jwmc1 · jwmc1's Garage

I disconnected the linkage....I am not having fun

Tim Hancock · 04-05-2005, 06:02 AM

Here are some lousy pictures that if you look closely, you may get an idea of how far my trans is hanging down as well as how high my car is jacked up.

jwmc1 · jwmc1's Garage

How far out should the linkage go from the tunnell after it is disconnectd? Should it stiull be in that tunnell, or should it have slid through more?

BGCarrera32 · 04-05-2005, 06:11 AM

Not that it can't be done seperately but in the future, the beauty of the 911 engine and gearbox is that you can remove them as a unit. Much much easier to do in my opinion. Others will disagree. I have pulled mine twice this way and never had a problem.

-BG

Tim Hancock · 04-05-2005, 06:39 AM

John, that looks about right to me. Are you allowing the engine to tilt back on your jack so as to present the clutch end up at an angle? This should work, I do not know what else to suggest. Good luck.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

John,

Since you're there now, you may as well pull the tranny all the way out. I don't want to sound like a broken record, but it really is much easier doing it all as one unit.

I have removed my engine/tranny once, so I may not be the most experienced guy to listen to. But, After seeing it done (by doing it) there is no way that I will ever do them separately.

One thing to add here is when it comes time to mate your tranny to the engine, you'll have a lot better access to the throwout fork if you have them both out of the car.

Randy

magic930 · 04-05-2005, 06:52 AM

John,
Remove the rear sheet metal valance or the entire rear bumper and you will have a lot more clearance for the fan. Also not sure how your car is jacked up but the angles line up a little easier if your front tires are on 4 or 5 inch wood blocks.

jwmc1 · jwmc1's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim Hancock
John, that looks about right to me. Are you allowing the engine to tilt back on your jack so as to present the clutch end up at an angle? This should work, I do not know what else to suggest. Good luck.

So you mean that I should have the rear of the engine closer to the ground than the front when mating them?

Tim Hancock · 04-05-2005, 07:25 AM

John, when I did mine, I seem to recall rocking the engine a bit. It should be relatively unstable while sitting on a pad on your case seam on your floor jack. Maybe try locating your jack slightly foward to allow you to rock it back a little. I really do not recall it being a problem with mine, if it was I would remember it (the throwout bearing/fork was my nemesis! Like I said look it over real good to see how it meshes before you try to mate it up!).

If you get too frustrated, pull the sheetmetal/bumber or the tranny

Randy, I agree with you about the ease of pulling it as a unit. If I was in John's shoes though (and I was), I would at least try to install w/out pulling the trans because he obviously is minutes away from a succesful mate up. Pulling the tranny will cost him additional time and possibly some aggravation (swapping the floor jack w/ blocks etc). It came apart, it SHOULD go back together.

Cdnone1 · 04-05-2005, 07:30 AM

I agree. You seem to have the car at a rather extreme angle to ge enough clearance in the rear. Try lifting the front of the car some to help with th mating angle. Also remove the bumper and rear valance to give you more room. If the car is alittle more level there is no reason why they shouldn't go back together just take your time. It is easier to mate them together out of the car but certainly can be done in the car
Steve

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim Hancock
Pulling the tranny will cost him additional time and possibly some aggravation (swapping the floor jack w/ blocks etc). It came apart, it SHOULD go back together.

We are definitely in agreement here. Unfortunately, things do seem to come apart much easier than they go back together...especially heavy things.

Part of the reason I suggest dropping the tranny was that over the weekend John had a couple of threads working where he was having difficulties mating the tranny to the engine. I guess I'm just trying to address all the issues John was having.

I agree it is a bit more work involved with dropping the tranny, despite being this close, but it may just end up being easier in the long run.

Randy