View Poll Results: Install the engine from the top or from underneath?
Voters: 318. You may not vote on this poll
How do you "drop in" an engine?
#1
I drive a G35, it's silver, surprised?
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Los Angeles.
Posts: 5,343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How do you "drop in" an engine?
Just curious to see what others are doing. Do you install your engine from the top or from the bottom? I'm referring to the common B series/K series swaps.
In the past, I've always dropped my motors from the top but it's such a delicate process ESPECIALLY if you have a freshly painted engine bay. Nervewrecking!
Seems like pulling it up from the bottom would be MUCH easier, the only drawback in my mind is that you have to lift the car at a steep angle so you can roll the engine underneath the radiator support. I work in my backyard, so no car lift for me unfortunately.
So what's your method?
In the past, I've always dropped my motors from the top but it's such a delicate process ESPECIALLY if you have a freshly painted engine bay. Nervewrecking!
Seems like pulling it up from the bottom would be MUCH easier, the only drawback in my mind is that you have to lift the car at a steep angle so you can roll the engine underneath the radiator support. I work in my backyard, so no car lift for me unfortunately.
So what's your method?
Trending Topics
#8
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Amarillo, TX
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I go from top, but if had a good bay paint job would consider bottom.
I'm not that concerned with having matching engine bay paint job. Most of time I just flat black my bay with rattle can. Easy touch it up if did happen scratch something.
I'm not that concerned with having matching engine bay paint job. Most of time I just flat black my bay with rattle can. Easy touch it up if did happen scratch something.
#11
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: NY
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
if you had a lift, then dropping it and putting it in from the bottom only takes 2 minutes TOPS. and thats with all the bolts in the mounts
other than that, an engine lift would be best imo, if not, slide it in from the side lol
other than that, an engine lift would be best imo, if not, slide it in from the side lol
#12
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Riverside, CA, US
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From the top. I always try to hook it up to the block and tranny because one time i hooked up one end to the head and it caused a head gasket leak. The heaviness of the engine made the bolts stretch.
#13
i hook it up to the tranny and the back of the head and never had a problem with leaking headgasket
#16
Honda-Tech Member
At the shop its from the bottom.
But since I do most my work and swaps in the driveway with jackstands. I always go from the top and always put-in/pull the motor/tranny together with a leveller. I do most of the work myself with rarely any help and have never had any problems.
Now the H2B in an eg hatch is fun and I have to drop it in with the header/alt/crankpulley all removed to get big betsy in but still manageable from the top 1 person.
But since I do most my work and swaps in the driveway with jackstands. I always go from the top and always put-in/pull the motor/tranny together with a leveller. I do most of the work myself with rarely any help and have never had any problems.
Now the H2B in an eg hatch is fun and I have to drop it in with the header/alt/crankpulley all removed to get big betsy in but still manageable from the top 1 person.
#17
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: wa, us
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
in the driveway motor swaps from the top. tranny swaps and clutch changes from the bottom. and yes the H2B swap is a big woman a hell of a lot less room to move the motor around with.
#18
Honda-Tech Member
In my garage with no car hoist or engine hoist. Removed the passenger side wheel and suspension. Dropped the complete engine, tranny & front cross member onto a dolly. removed manifolds and then I laid the engine down on it's side. I only had to jack up the car about a foot. I was then able to roll it out the passenger side without any problems.
#21
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: suffolk
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: How do you "drop in" an engine?
dont u need to take all the mounts/brackets off
to drop it from underneath?
wont the rear engine bracket be a bitch to fit?
to drop it from underneath?
wont the rear engine bracket be a bitch to fit?
#22
Re: How do you "drop in" an engine?
no it should be pretty cake the whole way doing it from the bottome... the rear engine bracket should be bolted in already .. the engine just slides up in the middle of the bracket and you align the tranny mounting point the bracket mounting point then put the bolts in and your done...
#23
Re: How do you "drop in" an engine?
i have always done it from the bottom. Had one guy tell me its way easier from the top and i was an idiot. That swap was the biggest pain in my ***. I alway go out the bottom it is 173484 million time easier.
#24
Honda-Tech Member
Re: How do you "drop in" an engine?
depends what your doin. i do d-series from the top but when i did my b-series i found it easier to put the motor on a creeper and use a cherry picker to raise it into the car
#25
Honda-Tech Member