Remove Engine on a GT?

[Lindsay]

Originally Posted by namba209 P. J. if you're asking how I lift the car with the cherry picker, I use a pair of 1000 lb straps wrapped around the front suspension, and hooked up to the cherry picker at its lowest point and just jack up the car. HTH.

Just be sure of capacity of cherry picker with boom extended ...
At least with engine disconnected from body, the body is lighter.

[namba209]

Originally Posted by Lindsay Just be sure of capacity of cherry picker with boom extended ... At least with engine disconnected from body, the body is lighter.

Good point, Lindsay. I just checked the capacity of mine with the boom extended and it's rated at 1000 lb., 4000 lb. wth the boom retracted. I don't think I'd use one with a 500 lb. rating, it may not be up to the task. One thing I forgot to say is, I did not get under the car with it in the air, I hooked up up a come-a-long and winched out the motor after I got the car high enuff to clear the engine, just in case.

[blancojp]

Hello!
Just caught my eye on the debate whether top or bottom. My experience has been a bit different since I have a 4-post lift and I just raise the car after the engine/tranny is loose. I have removed engines both ways and it is always lots of fun.

Through the top, you basically remove the radiator and all accessories from the engine including the water pump. You then let go the engine and tranny and lift out as a module without any crossmembers attached. Should take you about close to three hours to get the package out. If the vehicle has the engine area canibalized, then this way might be the best for you.

Through the bottom, just let go the engine and tranny and lift the front of the car at least 4 feet to about a 45 degree angle. This is the way the factory recommends you do the work since it is easier and faster. Should take you about 45 minutes to get the package out.

Which ever way you choose to do this, always make sure to be safe while doing it. And when in doubt, take a few moments to just think about it.

[Miskatonic]

I removed the engine and transmission out of the car yesterday, dropping it out of the bottom. Wasn't as bad as I expected, especially given that I had to do 90% of it myself. I'm not sure where the extreme concern for being put in harm's way is. The only time any part of my body was under the car was when I was reaching under to remove the bolts for the two crossmembers, as well as sliding a drain pan under the tail of the transmission.

I used the drop the engine and then lift the front end off the ground with the hoist method. I left the chain that was bolted to either side of the engine on the engine, and then drug it out with a piece of cardboard underneath. Piece of cake.

[nobody]

That's cool. Did you take any pics of how you got the motor and cross member out from under the car without ever getting under it? Pretty cool that 4 bolts and it slid out without ever being under a ton of steel. I want to know how you did it.

[pvcar]

well i live on the edge out here we work on our humvees on jack stands all the time crawlin underneath doing transfer cases and rear ends and ball joints, and anything else u can think of, an average humvee with gear full tank of diesel and up-armor weighs close to 8,000 pounds thats alot of cold hard steel, im always afraid of what would happen if a jack stand slipped out or failed but i guess thats why we sign on the dotted line, well another interesting fact a single door weighs close to 400 pounds. pulling an engine out of a humvee can be a little bit of a pita sometimes u have to pull the hood front mounts radaitor and all the other little hoses and goodies the worst is when u go to put it all back toghter.
Specailist Juneau
Mosul, Iraq "yah its only a 120 on a good day"

[luovo]

I'm in the progress of removing my engine, with transmission, out of my car. first, I tried to let the engine drop but it rest on a piece of the chassis, then I tried to slide it between that piece and the top of the car, again unsuccessful, now I'm trying to get the engine out of the top but it seems not quit possible. I have a cherry picker and a thing to push the engine up( don't known the name for that in english) I can't get the engine out, been trying all week for a hour of 3 a day, but not been able to get the engine out. if somebody have some pictures of the progress( removal by bottom or by top) please post them.

thanks Luovo

[luovo]

can somebody post a picture of the underside of a gt from '73 ? I think there's a difference between a usa model and a Belgium( european) model

I honesly don't see a way to get the engine out of the bottom.please help me I'm on the edge of cutting good parts off my car to get the engine out. (and that's probably not a good set of mind )

[namba209]

Check the link below from this site. There are pics of dropping the engine. If you have the transmission subframe mount bolts (2) removed and your "floor Jack" under the tranny, and the (8) bolts from the engine subframe removed with the engine held up by the hoist, then dropping the engine and tranny straight down, is possible. I can't think of anything that would hold up the engine from coming straight down.

http://www.opelgt.com/forums/general...ng-engine.html

[luovo]

The engine cannot simply drop straight down because there a (chassis?)bar just under the engine and i can't tilt the engine because the (cylinder?)head is pushing against the firewall. I will take some pic tomorrow to show my problem.

EDIT:

Here's the pic of the bar that's in my way( the bar is welded to my chasis):

[yellaopelgt]

A front sway bar in the way maybe??????
Joe

[luovo]

I honesly don't know what it is, I just know it is in my way and I can't take it off

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by luovo I honestly don't know what it is, I just know it is in my way and I can't take it off

I don't see a sway bar (but OEM style sway bars are in the way and have to be removed). Are you referring to the frame that is under the engine that your floor jack is lifting against? If so, that is the engine cradle, and attaches to the body with 8 bolts. It MUST be removed, and if it is welded to the body, then you are faced with either disassembling the engine and taking it out the top, or cutting the welds and removing the cradle. Are you SURE that it is welded in?

[namba209]

Originally Posted by kwilford I don't see a sway bar (but OEM style sway bars are in the way and have to be removed). Are you referring to the frame that is under the engine that your floor jack is lifting against? If so, that is the engine cradle, and attaches to the body with 6 bolts. It MUST be removed, and if it is welded to the body, then you are faced with either disassembling the engine and taking it out the top, or cutting the welds and removing the cradle. Are you SURE that it is welded in?

Actually Keith there's 8 bolts holding the engine subframe in. Two on each of the "frame" members and two outboard of it on each side, plus the two straps that go from the engine mount vertical legs to the tranny tunnel. The main frame bolts have a 15mm bolt head and the two hanger straps are 13mm bolt heads. Darn, I wish my house computer was up and running, I could post some pics of the subframe and engine out of the car. and pics of just the subframe I built installed in the car that shows the bolts clearly..

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by namba209 Actually Keith there's 8 bolts holding the engine subframe in. Two on each of the "frame" members and two outboard of it on each side, plus the two straps that go from the engine mount vertical legs to the tranny tunnel. The main frame bolts have a 15mm bolt head and the two hanger straps are 13mm bolt heads. Darn, I wish my house computer was up and running, I could post some pics of the subframe and engine out of the car. and pics of just the subframe I built installed in the car that shows the bolts clearly..

. . . and just to prove "a picture's still worth a thousand words":

[2 Fast 4 U]

Originally Posted by namba209 .........The main frame bolts have a 15 mm bolt head and the two hanger straps are 13 mm bolt heads..........

15 mm bolt head would be a small head M10 bolt [normally it's 17 mm]
13 mm bolt head is a M8 bolt

[luovo]

Thanks everybody!

The engine is out the car. It was welded, so cut it and down it came , engine was out not 5 minutes later me very very happy

Now I'm looking for 'something' so I can easily remove the rest of the car and rotate the complete car so I can restore the downside of the car without lying under it ( not a big fan of that )

[namba209]

Originally Posted by 2 Fast 4 U 15 mm bolt head would be a small head M10 bolt [normally it's 17 mm] 13 mm bolt head is a M8 bolt

Yep, that's what they are on mine, 15 mm on the engine subframe and 17 mm on the tranny subframe, and they are original too.

[jlthunder]

I know the engine is out, but here are two pictures of the engine sub-frame removed from the car. Note the 2 horizontal supports near the engine mounts.

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by jlthunder I know the engine is out, but here are two pictures of the engine sub-frame removed from the car. Note the 2 horizontal supports near the engine mounts.

Look at both innermost cradle mounting holes right next to those horizontal support and you will see two spacers that go between the cradle and the chassis "frame" on each side. These spacers are used when there is no factory front sway bar (similar to Lenk).

[jlthunder]

Originally Posted by luovo Thanks everybody! The engine is out the car. It was welded, so cut it and down it came , engine was out not 5 minutes later me very very happy

Please let us know if you cut the two arms mid way up the subframe which are shown in the above pictures. Those are needed for support.

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by namba209 Yep, that's what they are on mine, 15 mm on the engine subframe and 17 mm on the tranny subframe, and they are original too.

Don't believe that's true, originals were 15mm head also.

[namba209]

Well then, Otto, I guess I'll have to thank the dreaded PO for that one. I thought for sure mine WAS original.

[luovo]

only the 4 bolts on the bottom where welded. The 2 bolts inside de engine compartment were not welded , it was 2 times 13 MM head.

again thanks for the pics I'm very happy that the engine is out. now I'm looking for a rotating device and than the real fun stuff begins (sanding )

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by namba209 Well then, Otto, I guess I'll have to thank the dreaded PO for that one. I thought for sure mine WAS original.

. . . or perhaps the FPO, . . . uh, Forgetful Present Owner!!