I would guess with proper balance on the tranny, job could be done COMPLETELY correctly (as TroyGT experienced)...others may not be so lucky, and impose the very issues noted by Grady. Since I don't drop frequently (racing...?), I'm VERY into the mentioned "renew" points Grady mentioned,..so it makes sense to drop her as a "whole".....

...me? I'd be the poor bastard that screwed the splines up,...or any host of other things not seen or prepared for by the DIY, (but definately seen by the P-wrenches............)

...conservative, for me. .....(a whimp....)

Best,

Doyle

i too would like to see a photo of the dolly and jack :)

have you guys pulled a motor without using a lift, How do u get the body of the car over the motor to pull it out without a lift to raise the car?!?!?!

Most guys here are pulling motors with floorjacks and jackstands. Do yourself a favor and snoop around.

To follow-up on Grady's statement, I agree that there is something to be said about new CV gaskets and bolts. I did that my first drop. But on subsequent drops, I still stand by the engine alone being so much simpler.

Here is an example of an ATV jack being used to remove the engine and tranny. I would say that it went pretty well, being a first timer. A good investment.

-Ken

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222123221.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222123252.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222123278.jpg

I just dropped an engine last night. After getting everything unhooked, I balance a dolly on top of the floor jack saddle (and maybe a piece of plywood, if the dolly is not as large as I like) and raise it so the jack saddle is at about the center of mass. That's just about three or four inches from the rear of the motor, about where #6 cylinder is. I place stacks of lengths of 2x4 studs on the floor so that when the engine does come down, the plywood or dolly will rest on those. The reason for this is because otherwise, there is no way to get the floor jack out from under the dolly.

I undo the tranny bolts (2), and then the engine mount bolts (2). Then I SLOWLY lower the engine. Stopping frequently. Looking carefully for the stuff I forgot to disconnect. As soon as the fan housing clears the body, I pull on the floor jack and the engine/tranny moves. When the shift rod leaves the tunnel the tranny-end drops down. I then lower the rest of the engine so it is resting on those four stacks of four 2x4 stud lengths. I slide the floor jack out. Raise the car enough so that the engine will clear (rear valence removed.....my rear valence is always removed....who needs 'em?), then I just remove stud sections until the dolly is on the floor. Roll the engine/tranny out.

What I did was install the motor and transmission as one unit. I used a piece of plywood on a pallet truck. I raised the car enough so the fan would fit under the bumper.
At the same time I put a floor jack on the front of the tranny and raised the tranny to get a better angle for the shift rod to go into the tunnel.
Once the shift rod was in the tunnel I removed the jack stands and lowered the car.
Then using the lift truck I raised the engine so the motor mounts would line up with the cross member.
It was my first time doing it and it took an hour to get the motor and tranny bolted in.
Here are some pictures that may explain it better.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222131600.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222131717.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222131774.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222131868.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222131928.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222132008.jpg

Well at least we have a consensus :)

Engine only or engine & transmission together, yea that's the ticket. One way or the other you can drop the engine.

I was a newbie at dropping the engine several years ago and did it successfully with an ATV jack ($100 at Sears). I dropped the engine/tranny together and replaced/repaired/cleaned a bunch of stuff while the engine was out. The motor mounts were shot as well as several other parts that were easily replaced with the engine out of the car.

I just used some 2X8's, screwed them together, and screwed some cheap wheels on the bottom.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222135160.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222135371.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222135405.jpg

I made an engine/trans dolly based on Gunter's dimensions of balance point.
Removed the rear valence panel.
Blocked the dolly up under the engine with 2x4's.
Removed connections, eng/trans mounts.
Raised the car up on jack stands.
Slid the engine back with a floor jack to clear the transmission.
Continued to raise the car.
Pulled the dolly back with a floor jack, removed 2x4's lowered the dolly to the floor.
Really simple and easy.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222215501.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222215523.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222215539.jpg