Dropping engine

I am looking at removing my motor to do a clutch and resealing (maybe even a rebuild). I can not even get the car high enough to even attempt this great feat. Please does anybody know of an easy way to get the car high enough. What size of trolley jack and jack stands to do this. Any tricks ?

Jerry, you should check out the huge debate in the last few months, under the post "Engine Drop Made Easy"! Fun stuff.

When I took out my engine, I removed the rear bumper. Otherwise, you have to get the rear end WAY up there. Further than I was comfortable doing in my garage.

I'm not necessarily recommending this, because it does take a bit more time, and I'm sure others have safely jacked the car up high enough to remove the engine with the bumper in place. (I was removing the bumper for other reasons anyways). But, it is an alternative.

Good luck!

Jerry, I just dropped my engine and tranny (by myself, thankyou) and would definetly recommend removing the rear valance. You should certainly have some scraps of 2x4 or even better 2x10's around to help with jack placement and to get your stands up high enough. I actually made a trolley of sorts out of 2 pieces 0f .75in.plywood with 4 heavy duty casters. The cart is roughly 24in. x 24in.I had already removed my exchangers and muffler, so I took 2 2x4's on the flat and screwed them together and then screwed them to the edge of the cart so that the exhaust valve covers were resting on the 2x4's. Then my floor jack simply slid under the cart and was easily removed when the motor came out. I hope this helps you some.

Thanks guys....

I am not sure if your Porsche is the same as my 78 911 Sc, but I used floor stands and floor jacks (2).

In the rear alongside the wheel you can jack up the rear end with the floor jacks, and place the floor jacks under the longitugidal frame just in front of the rear wheels. You will need two (2) floor jacks to do this. The rear end needs to be raised approximately 34 inches with the rear bumper removed.

Place hardwood 2X4X3"l on top of the floor stand and let the car rest on them. This will keep them from slipping.

Once the rear end is raised, use one floor jack under the oil drain plug area, and the other under the transmission support to lower the engine. You may need raise the floor jack under engine high enough to suppor the engine (use 2X4's 90 degrees to each other to place the jack on. Once the engine is low enough, place the 2x4's under the heat excahcnger both sides, and lower it onto them and remove the jack. Remove the the 2x4's, place the jack on the floor and continue to drop the engine. I used a furniture dolly to set the engine on and it works great.

I have some pics if you are interested in. Let me know.

Regards,


Steve

By the date you may be beyond this now but one trick I used was to take some old 'stair treads' from a new house construction site, these are usually tossed after the house ic finished. The treads are 2 X 10 (maybe thicker), I used about 3 under each wheel with some 2 X 4 X 10" spacers running cross ways to get an overall height of about 10 inches. Very stable, I'm VERY cautious about getting under a car, and high enough for my 230lb 50 something body!
I used someone elses suggestion about a 2 foot by 3 foot (approx) sheet of plywood, I used two thicknesses of 5/8 . After lowering I blocked the edges of the plywood to get the jack out then a very old and heavy 'crow bar' to lift slightly and gradually lower the block height til the sheets rested on 1 1/4 alluminum 1/4 wall tubing. I used about 4 pieces about 18" lond and by moving the back one to the front as you roll the engine along moved it where I wanted to in the garage. Because of clutch problems (see other post) I've done this twice in the last two months :-))
Good luck