Which would be easier. Drop it out the bottom or pull it from the top? i can get my hands on a cherry picker and some big suv jacks but no lift. with the suv jacks i think i may be able to get it high enuf to drop but how hard is it to pull it from the top (engine + tranny)

 

It can be done either way, it's up to you. If pulling from top angle the tranny side down and watch the suppermassive crankpulley so it doesnt hit the innner frame rail.
If you can get the car high enough then droppener out the bottom would be easier.

 

drop it. drop it. DROP IT!

i have done 3 by pulling on a 92-93 ludes. I did a drop on an 04 civic (allot more **** to deal with) and it only took me 1.5 hours. As long as you know what you need to disconnect i would say drop it on the subframe with the tranny. get a few friends to help you lift the car over the engine and it should no be to tough concidering all the weight you will be dropping.
just letting you know you will be lifting the car verry high though.

 

make sure you are using a floor jack, NOT SPARE TIRE JACKS. and never get under a car without at least one jackstand under whatever side you are on. I have seen a jack break under a gutted civic.

 

when i did my 2 swaps on my 92 integra, i pulled them both. wasn't that bad. buddy had a chairy picker. but i've heard it to be a ton easier dropping. guess it depends on what you have to work with (tools/man power).

 

I really dont think you would be able to get the car high enough with out a rack to drop the engine from the bottom. But yea, if you can, do it.

 

i vote drop it if you can get the front end high enough

 

drop it...if u cannot get ur hands on jack stands high enough to lift the front...then i dont think u are ready to take out the engine. To drop it...u will also need to unscrew the front crossmember bars where they connect to the suspension, otherwise there will be clearance issues. good luck

 

to all you guys that have dropped it below: how high (roughly) did you have to have the car? would 6 ton 25" lift jackstands work? also, i assume you have to completely disassemble the front suspension right? so there is some money for an alignment too.

for a 130 lb guy like myself pulling the engine alone, which way is easier?

 

without a lift i dunno why anyone would say drop it...to even get the front end high enough to slide the engine on the ground out from underneath, the firewall and everything will be at a pretty big angle, which means youll have to angle the engine a bit, which would be a pita with only a jack, not to mention the even larger PITA it will be putting it back in with only a floor jack, whoever is trying this without a lift i applaude your ability to connect up that rear mount....

i pulled mine about a month ago for a rebuild, so much easier than i thought it would be, kragen had a lift/engine stand combo on sale for ~$120, 4 feet of chain from home depot, and the engine was out, i would remove the crank pulley before pulling the motor but it isnt necessary if youre careful, but if your friend already has a lift you can use take advantage, plus you wont have to jack up the front of the car redicously high (also making it more unstable) to remove everything...

also, dont forget to leave yourself enough room to pull the picker enough so the engine clears the car....it would really suck to have the engine up and then youre fucked cuz the picker is up against the wall and the motor is halfway out of the car and half of it is sitting right over the radiator....

 

Pull It!! I've had mine in and out at least 10 times and I can do it in about an hour on a good day.

 

yeah, i think i may go buy one. although, i can rent them for $15 a day. with one person, you guys think a load leveler is a good investment?

 

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depends on the cost, you can level the engine/tranny pretty well to align mount bolt holes and stuff with a floor jack under one end pretty well, i attached the chain to the little loopy piece next to the power steering bracket and the other end on the loop down near the rear where the block meets the tranny, then just adjust where the hook is lifting the chain and the engine will stay level

 

drop it drop it drop it

i hate pulling prelude motors out from the top....besides you wont even have to take the hood off this way, just unbolt the subframe and drop the biach

 

just because of the added cost I may just drop it underneath. i just have to figure out where i'm gonna put the jack so i can lower it far enough to bolt the engine back up.