Engine Out The Top - Stuck! Advice?

[OK-944]

Got the "free" 1987 924S up on my lift - and figured this time I'd lift the engine out the top so I could leave all of the suspension stuff alone for now.

So, I scribed and removed the hood, did the usual disconnecting stuff, and now the engine feels loose like it wants to come out...but the lower (finned) part of the oil pan is hard up against the cross member, and I cannot seem to lift the engine high enough to clear the crossmember...because even though the torque tube flange is separated from the bell housing by about an inch - the drive shaft has yet to clear the bell housing, and cannot move it backwards enough to do so.

Any advice here?

One thing that's occurred to me is that I also want to salvage the tranny - and perhaps by removing it I could then pull the torque tube back enough to free up the drive shaft? Does this make sense?

Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll need to remove some front suspension gear so I can lower the cross member to take the engine out the bottom as per usual.

[944 Ecology]

In my experience (dismantled over 100 944 cars), the best way is out the bottom (which is the reverse of how the cars were built).

I used to pull the entire drivetrain in one shot, and separate the engine, torque tube, and transaxle once removed (when you have access to all the bolts, it can be done in 5 minutes.)

Never did one out the top.

[16again2009]

I did mine out the top and it was easy. Keep looking. You are hung up on something. You do not have to lower the crossmember or any suspension parts. If I remember correctly I was hung up on a steering hose.

[OK-944]

I've done this twice out the bottom, and it would probably make sense to do this again.

But I think, that with the engine supported...I could manage to lower the cross member just a bit, without any other major disassembly - so the oil pan could clear this and move forward. Will try this tomorrow.

[jjeffries]

OK944, in prepping to pull my engine, I did some googling and, via Rennlist, found this approach. I don’t want to drop this through the bottom because I’d rather not f-up all the work I put into the alignment. It’s an interesting approach … undoing the clutch from the flywheel and leaving the bellhousing in place. I did most of the prep yesterday, waiting for more time to get back on it. Will report on how it works.

https://944lux.blogspot.com/2012/04/engine-out-top-easy-peasy.html?m=1

Best, John

[v2rocket_aka944]

when i would take a 944 engine out the top, i would drop the transmission and slide the torque tube back. transmission is easy peasy to drop.

i didn't have a way to get the body of the car high enough to slide the engine out the bottom.

[lordmundi]

i don't want to dissuade you from taking it out the top. but if you decide to go out the bottom, I used an approach similar to edredas here where I used the engine lift with a strap around the front of the chassis to lift up and easily create clearance to get it out. I did remove the front cross member. https://youtu.be/-qrLKxs2ToY?t=657

[jjeffries]

If I were butchering the car for parts, I’d drop everything as George/944 Ecology suggests.

John

[OK-944]

Thanks for the hints and links!

My situation is a bit too complex at the moment for me to drop the engine, and I cannot find the main engine bolt amongst all the loose parts to put back in place to allow me to turn the crank to facilitate removing the pressure plate bolts, to facilitate removal out the top.

So the car will need to sit for a couple more days until other stuff gets worked out, at which point I will go into more detail here about how I've decided to proceed.

In the meantime...thanks again!

[porschemech]

Hello
I installed the engine in my 1984 944 from the top, only about a half an inch to spare between oil pan and crossmember. I am assuming the 924s is the same, could be wrong.
Any questions call me to discuss details, 813-741-3459, Karl
Good luck

[v2rocket_aka944]

Originally Posted by OK-944

Thanks for the hints and links!

My situation is a bit too complex at the moment for me to drop the engine, and I cannot find the main engine bolt amongst all the loose parts to put back in place to allow me to turn the crank to facilitate removing the pressure plate bolts, to facilitate removal out the top.

So the car will need to sit for a couple more days until other stuff gets worked out, at which point I will go into more detail here about how I've decided to proceed.

In the meantime...thanks again!

You don't need to remove the pressure plate or bell housing to take the engine out the top. Can leave the BH attached to the engine.

If you need the main crank bolt I can mail you one for the cost of postage, I have 2 or 3 and don't even own a 944 engine anymore.

[OK-944]

Thanks V2 - but that bolt (with its washer) did eventually turn up in a box of parts.

Got the engine out also...by removing control arm bolts and crossmember bolts, and pushing the crossmember downwards until the oil pan cleared. A bit of leverage was required - but out it came!

[grendiers]

I removed the engine out of an ‘88, and after removing the radiator, intake manifold, transmission too I believe, shoved the tube back, the engine came out from the top. Had to lift the front of the engine more to get everything to clear. Had to twist it a bit in one direction, wasn’t fun!