Here goes...1st Engine Drop

[DaddyGlenn]

Well here goes. I spent a couple nights last week clearing out the garage. so the car is in and ready for surgery.



Nothing major, I'm really doing it just for fun. I'll add a sound pad, replace hoses and clamps, adjust the valves and do some cleaning.

Out came the oil and I began disconnecting things on top. After removing the heater ducting and blower motor...disconnecting the fuel lines and electrical connections ... setting the A/C compressor aside and yanking off the breather hoses, there is a bunch more room in the engine compartment.



Inside the car I disconnected the shift linkage and speedo wires. Then flat on my back under the car, disconnected the throttle linkage, ground strap, hot air hoses. But the sway bar bolts are giving me trouble.

Since the Pizza just arrived and the kids need food, bath and bed, it looks like I am done for this evening. I'll tackle those tough bolts in the AM.

More to come.

[hcoles]

looking good..I've dropped my 3.2 two times now...
you may want to label things...as you unhook them...I'm glad I did.
you can try the hold engine and jack the car up method..it works good for doing it by yourself and is safer

[Hugh R]

watch out for the electrical plug on the top left side of the engine behind your CIS thing (I have a Carrera, so don't know about your car). You'll see it as you slowly lower the engine. Disconnect it, its attached to the firewall, or there abouts.

[dentist90]

My first one this AM, too. Except I had the help of a 'retired ' mechanic friend and his hoist. Toughest part of the job for us was the engine hard oil line nut and the fuel line nuts ( my 17mm flare nut wrench was actually opening up!). I made a dolly to support the engine/transmission assembly but it wasn't long enough... the front wheels at the transmission end started to lift. We placed a floor jack under the motor end and all was good again. Tricky balancing act at times.


Everyone should have one of these. Kicker is he got this rig used and reconditioned for $1200 CDN. Luxury!

[DaddyGlenn]

Thanks Hugh. I think that would be the heater blower motor wires. I got those already but I'll double check in case I missed anything.

Dentist, I am jealous. A lift would make things so much easier.

Well, I'm off to tackle the sway bar, CV joints and starter wire. After that its the engine mounts and down she comes.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Glenn,

Looking good. Admirable you have the stones to do this "just for fun".

It sounds like you don't have too many specifics in mind while in there, so may I suggest an engine bay clean up and repaint?

Somewhere here on the board I remember a thread where the guy bought automotive paint and mixed it with extra (or was it less?) thinner to use with one of those small trim foam rollers. Since the engine compartment metal isn't smooth it came out looking great. I think he even used a paint brush to get into spots here and there.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck and please post pictures along the way.

[DaddyGlenn]

A picture is worth a thousand words...

[azasadny]

Glenn,
You're not dirty enough. when I dropped my engine this past summer, I looked like hell and was filthy from head to toe!

[dentist90]

Glenn! Excellent! Did you do it all alone? Hats off if you did. The moment of seperation had me holding my breath, especially when the shift selector rod just cleared the tunnel. Stupid me, I didn't put into 1st or 3rd so the shaft was sticking out an inch more than it had to, making it harder to get free. Sure looks different inside there with the motor out, eh!

[cantdrv55]

Great job Glenn. I agree, you are too clean. But working in that engine bay of your will fix that.

[DaddyGlenn]

Thank you, all. I had shed the coveralls so I appear a bit cleaner than I was.

My first car was a '70 bug and I dropped the engine on that one many times. But that was a couple decades ago. It is a similar process however.

I've got some more pictures I will upload this evening.

Have a great day.

[tjc5911]

Congrats! I'm trying to get up the courage to do the same.

[DaddyGlenn]

As promised here is more.

Dentist, I did do it all by myself (a fact I am proud of).

Here is a shot just prior to the "moment of truth"



I made the dolly from 2-2'x3' pieces of 3/4" plywood stuck together with liquid nails and drywall screws. Those are 3" swivel casters at each corner. I would recommend using 4" wheels though. The extra inch would have helped getting it off the jack.

Now that it's out I find the clean up job will be bigger than anticipated.

I spent the day contemplating powder painting all the engine tin and the fan and fan shroud but I think the budget will prevent it at this time. I'll still clean the tin and maybe hit it with some hi temp spray paint. Any suggestions?

Glenn

[Dan in Pasadena]

Glenn,

Excellent work. When my engine was out soon after it came home from the paint shop (yes, I KNOW that's out of order!) I took it on with a variety of Scotch Brite pads, brushes and spray degreaser - ALL from either the 99 cent store or Big Lots (Pick 'n Save). Also, Harbor Freight has a gallon of seriously strong yellow degreaser for $9.99. Much cheaper than anywhere else. I went over and over it planning on painting inthere, but in the end ran out of time - damn. I shoulda painted inthere anyway. As I said earlier, I would have used a small foam roller with automotive paint mixed for brushing. Another option would be Rustoleum if you could have it mixed to match. In either case, I planned on giving the major surfaces a going over with steel wool then a shopvac. Tin - I'd soak the hell out of it in degreaser then wet sand it and use VHT. Baking that stuff actually works to make it harder - if your wife won't kill you for using the kitchen oven.. Good luck, Post pix!

[mark '87 930]

Glenn,

That's fabulous work.. I aspire to drop the engine if not for the same reason you did (for fun). I do have one question though... did you jack up the car after the engine was out, so you could pull the engine out from under the car?

[DaddyGlenn]

I had my jack stand at full extension under the sway bar mounts when I lowered the engine/tranny out. I had to get the jack out from under the dolly to then raise the car about 4 more inches (repositioning the jack stands further forward) to get the clearance needed to roll the engine/trans out.

It looks like the oil pressure sender had sprug a leak at some point in the past. Records indicate that it had been replaced but it appears that they didn't bother cleaning up the oil. Yuk.

[lusso]

Glenn,
Great job! Cleaning and degreasing can go on forever. Well worth the effort.

I did a simular job this summer. I have a much better understanding of my car. I always thought it would be more difficult to drop the engine......I spent more time second guessing myself.

Good luck
Dave

[DaddyGlenn]

I just spent about an hour removing tin and poking around. I think I'm going to have to remove the FI system.

[lusso]

It is not so bad....the CIS comes off in one piece(basically)
How long is your "while you are in there" list?
Mine was huge...but I only went $600 over my budget.
Have fun
Dave

[NoEardGoat]

I did my engine drop on the same day. Your pic inspired me to take this one!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads9/P10101931161657641.jpg[/img]

Here is a link to the thread I have startted for my project 81' SC
My new (old) 1981 911sc Project car[img]

My project is growing by the minute.