I’m trying to remove the engine from my 1990 Civic Si but I would like to keep the tranny in just because I believe it would be easier and plan on reusing it. I have everything disconnected and it seems like it should come out but for some reason it seems to get stuck on the spline on the tranny, at least that’s what I think it’s stuck on.

Is there an easier way to do this and what might I be doing wrong to where the tranny seems to get caught up and not want to separate from the engine.

Something kind of unrelated but I’m going to put another engine in the car and use it until I can fix the old engine but the new engine came with a tranny I can’t use and it is still connected to the engine. I have removed all the bolts that hold the tranny to the engine but for some reason it’s stuck and will not budge off the engine. Is it common for the tranny to get stuck to the engine and is there any way to get it loose? I tried whacking a few times with a hammer but it still wouldn’t budge.

This will be my first engine removal so any tips would be appreciated.

 

yeh dude just pull the whole thing....throw a couple bolts back in the trans and pull it all.....much much much easier to get out, and when u swap the trans over to ur new motor, it will go on sooo much easier....i have done this many times and trust me its easier to pull the whole thing vs just the engine or just the trans...good luck

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hizroyalty &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeh dude just pull the whole thing....throw a couple bolts back in the trans and pull it all.....much much much easier to get out, and when u swap the trans over to ur new motor, it will go on sooo much easier....i have done this many times and trust me its easier to pull the whole thing vs just the engine or just the trans...good luck</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah I was kind of thinking it might be easier especialy since I will also have to install a new clutch while I have everything out.

What about the other engine and the tranny stuck to it? Any suggestions on how to get it separated?

 

I've always found it easier to remove the whole damn thing as one unit...but some people will argue the other way. Its personal preference.

As for the engine tranny being stuck together, if you're sure all the bolts are removed...what worked when I had a similar problem:
Use an engine lift, but pick the engine up sideways so the tranny is on the bottom/facing the ground.
Only lift it so the tranny is like 1" off the ground.
Then use gravity and a BFH to coax it off the engine. Since its going to need some space to slide off the input shaft, you might need to raise it another inch or so as you make progress, but this way it won't fall and get damaged.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by davens &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've always found it easier to remove the whole damn thing as one unit...but some people will argue the other way. Its personal preference.

As for the engine tranny being stuck together, if you're sure all the bolts are removed...what worked when I had a similar problem:
Use an engine lift, but pick the engine up sideways so the tranny is on the bottom/facing the ground.
Only lift it so the tranny is like 1" off the ground.
Then use gravity and a BFH to coax it off the engine. Since its going to need some space to slide off the input shaft, you might need to raise it another inch or so as you make progress, but this way it won't fall and get damaged.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's a pretty good idea about lifting the whole engine and tranny, might have to try that if after I can get the other engine out.

I think it's going to be impossible to get the engine separated from the engine right now so it's looking like I'll just have to take the whole thing out.

 

I'd also pull them out together.

 

yeah its easier to pull the whole thing out...i do that even when my tranny goes bad

 

Did you remove the bottom starter bolt?
You wouldn't think so but it holds the two together.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Speed--Freak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Did you remove the bottom starter bolt?
You wouldn't think so but it holds the two together.</TD></TR></TABLE>

DOH! I'll bet that's what's holding the tranny together on both engines I'm having problems with. I already started taking everything off to get both the engine and tranny out but it was good that I did because when I was pulling out the drivers side axle it literally fell apart and a few pieces fell to the ground.

I'll probably remove the starter tomorrow on the other engine and see if that helps get it apart and if it does I might try it on the engine on the Si and see if the tranny comes loose.

 

it's just a headache, you would of had the whole thing out and tranny unbloted by now if you would of pulled it all together

 

Just remember that experience is the best teacher.

 

man just pull it all togeather you and a friend can have it out and the new one in a day if every thang goes right me and another person helping me can do a swap in about 8hours but thats not including lunch

 

Pull of that **** out. Drop it out the bottom too.

 

Woo hoo after removing the starter bolt the engine slid right off the tranny and came out withe no problem.

Thanks guys for the help, I would still be stuff on that starter bolt if I never would have found out about it.

 

Congrats!!

 

Has anyone pulled the tranny and motor as one but left the axles attached to the front hubs.

What is the trick here in getting the tranny splines out and back in?

 

I don't think you can do it.
And why would you want to anyway?
We ain't no lazy mechanics here.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bcborn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Has anyone pulled the tranny and motor as one but left the axles attached to the front hubs.

What is the trick here in getting the tranny splines out and back in?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well you can leave the axles dangleing so you don't have to pull them all the way out but you still have to pull them out of the spindles, the easiest way is to loosen the lower ball joint castle nut (leave it hanging on by a few threads though so you won't hammer the threads) and take a BFH and wack the hell out of the control arm where it is solid metal where the ball joint comes through. this will shock the joint after enough hits and it will come loose, take the castle nut off now and swing the spindle back working the axle out at the same time (hopefully your axle nt is removed by now). this is best way to do it and the way all the pros I know do it. Once the axle is free from the spindle and tranny you can let the damper fork hold the axle while it dangles out of the way......make sense???? it really is very easy

 

I just did this now....No big deal...took 15 minutes of being a bitch but definately saved time

 

But when you drop the motor back in, how do you get everything lined back up?
If the axles don't line up when you drop it back in won't you mess something up?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bcborn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Has anyone pulled the tranny and motor as one but left the axles attached to the front hubs.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Always done it like that.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bcborn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

What is the trick here in getting the tranny splines out and back in?</TD></TR></TABLE>

If the engine is out I usually fit it up best as possible and thread a few bolts in, and evenly screw them in with a wratchet. Usually pulls it all together. If not rotate one of the halfshaft inputs and itll turn the input shaft and slide it in.

p.s. I had to use prybar when I separated my engine/tranny for the first time. Even though starter was out it was being stubborn.

 

Its way ez'r to take it all out as 1.... I can pull a crx/civic engine in 1 hour by myself

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Speed--Freak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">But when you drop the motor back in, how do you get everything lined back up?
If the axles don't line up when you drop it back in won't you mess something up?</TD></TR></TABLE>

once the motor is back in and mounted it lines it's self up. Everything else bolts right up easy as pie, their is no "alignment" procedures needed or anything like that.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bcborn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Has anyone pulled the tranny and motor as one but left the axles attached to the front hubs.

What is the trick here in getting the tranny splines out and back in?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The only way I know to leave the axles connected is to unbolt the upper control arm/strut asy and swing it out of the way but that messes up the alignment is is more work than needs to be done, that's why Honda techs don't do it that way (time is money) As far as the tranny splines it just takes a little wobble action while pushing it together and it slides right in, then use a few tranny bolts to secure it before it goes back in the car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VtecSyndrome &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
The only way I know to leave the axles connected is to unbolt the upper control arm/strut asy and swing it out of the way but that messes up the alignment is is more work than needs to be done, that's why Honda techs don't do it that way (time is money)</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't know where you get your information, but that is not how the rest of the world does it. You disconnect the hub at the lower control arm and swing it out that way. That has to come out anyways if you pull the axles from the transmission. THAT is how the Honda technicians do it. One bolt.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 31flavorscivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I don't know where you get your information, but that is not how the rest of the world does it. You disconnect the hub at the lower control arm and swing it out that way. That has to come out anyways if you pull the axles from the transmission. THAT is how the Honda technicians do it. One bolt.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The lower control arm IS how I do it but I always removed the axle when the motor was coming out, but to be honest every time I have taken the whole motor out the axles needed to go as well due to fact it's usually a motor swap requireing diff. axles. swinging the hub out of the way w/ the axle still attached just seemed to always be more of a hassle but that's cool, we learn something new everyday.