How high to get engine out?

[goober]

I searched the forum and coun't find the answer. (I'm sure one of you will have better luck!)

I am pulling the engine out of my 84 Carrera. How high do I have to get the car in the air to clear the engine when i slide it out the back?

[Oh Haha]

36 inches should be safe if you aren't removing the rear bumper.
You can gain some room by taking it off but I found that it worked ok on a buddies Carrera. The Motronic system seems to be a little more compact than my CIS system.

PLEASE use secure, big jackstands when doing this. We don;t need to have any injured Pelicans. Be safe.

[North Coast Cab]

On my '84 it was really high, around the 36" mark. However, you only need it that high for a minute when you pull the engine out. Leave it down while you disconnect everything and get ready, otherwise it's a PITA to get to everything.

[the]

Scary high - that's the worst part of the job when you are doing it without a lift - getting the back end way up there on jackstands.

[Mark McClure]

I came across the issue that my stands are not high enough. Had to put concrete blocks under stands until I got to the right height. It sounds silly but the car felt more secure being on a stable base with the stands only half extended.......longer stands look less stable. although I have not heard any stories on cars rocking off the stands.

Mark....

[sammyg2]

No no no. No concrete blocks. They have a tendency to crumble at the wrong time. People have been killed that way, it's not an urban myth. I know our porsches are not that heavy but why roll the dice when your life is at stake?

I use a bunch of 4x4 blocks about 16" long, screwed together with a piece of plywood screwed on top for stability. The first two facing one direction and the second pair on top of them and perpedicular.

[CabMike]

Can you use an engine hoist to lift the rear of the car for the final portion of the drop? If so, where would you attache the hoist to best lift the rear up?

Thanks,
Mike

[Mark McClure]

The conctre blocks are actually pavers about 5cm thick and 50cm square. There is no way of them crumbling. I stack 3 on each side.

Should have been a bit more accurate in my discription.......I have seen people using blocks....and the results of them crumbling.

Mark.........

[Komenda Fan]

Oh, so not like this then either, I guess...

[FenderGuy]

That high

[Mark McClure]

That guy is just plain scary.......I hear he is advertising for apprentices!

[Mattcamp]

Originally posted by Mark McClure
That guy is just plain scary.......I hear he is advertising for apprentices!

I think that guy is welding on the gas tank.

[Mark McClure]

but he has great ventilation so any harmful fumes will be wisked away with the breeze from the arriving hurse.

[88-diamondblue]

About this high. It is around 36".

[Larry_Ratcliff]

I have always take off the back bumper... and gone for the more stable jack stands... always afraid a little earth shaker will come along when I have my car in the air. The back bumper is only about a 30 min removal... then jack stands extended at full range on the torsion tubes will get the job done.

[BK911]

I feel safer using wheel ramps. Once I get the engine on the dolly, I jack up one side a little higher and pull the engine out.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I used a chain hoist attached to a beam in the attic. As I remember--I'm not sure, I basically just wrapped rope around padding around the entire aft-end crosspiece of the bodywork (the bumper was off) rather than finding any specific weight-bearing piece to attach to. After all, the car less engine/trans is not that heavy when you're lifting the aft end. I was able to do it by hand, in fact, when I got the glass and interior out.

[911mot]

I just about squeezed it out of there - note blocks under axle stands though. Removing air filter housing and blower motor first would have helped.

[ChrisBennet]

Get some tall jack stands and good wheel chocks. It will make your life safer and easier.
.

For cars with low front spoilers or front spoiler lips (the plastic thing under the front valance) I put some wide boards under the front tires.
Otherwise, the front spoiler may get jammed into the ground when you jack the rear up that high


-Chris

[defcon65]

My engine runs great, so I'd have to be REALLY high to take it out. I'd probably just detail the bathroom sink with a toothbrush instead.

Regards,