I recall reading you could drop and install an engine from below on the 92-95 civics. The key is jacking up the front of the car enough to slide the engine out and in etc.

Well, I just dropped the engine to the ground on my parts car, and I have a 48 inch 2 ton farm jack to lift the front of the car up and I think I can weasel the engine out around the 4 foot jack.

As it was I dropped the engine off my floor jack to the ground and hoping the oil pan didn't get dented from the 2.5-3.0 inch drop onto the concrete.

This exercise is making me wonder. What is the trick to install the engine without a crane?

Is there any tips or tricks I should know? I am working solo so that might also work against me.

Any feedback is welcome.

 

Build a wooden 'cradle' to jack it up with.

That's what I would do if I didn't have access to a hoist

 

Build an engine support and add a crane.

 

i have used a come along and a ceiling joist for lighter engines, i have also done the same with a tree limb. I have used an 8 foot pipe and another big guy (i'm 6'2" and 230 and lean) with a couple of straps.

the best way is with a wheeled cart and a car lift.

 

or see if you can rent a crane. if you were in the north houston area i could bring mine over...

 

Sure, lets all hitch a ride to Canada.

 

Thanks for all the feedback.

As I was drifting off to sleep, it dawned on me that I have the 4 foot farm jack. Once I slide the engine under and lower the car, I should be able to use the farm jack to raise the engine enough to get the floor jack under it.

I priced floor cranes and don't want to shell out 400 bucks after taxes right now for one so I will see about shopping around for rental places. We have a few, I'm sure that will be much more economical right now.

At least you could enjoy stronger beer straight off the shelf if you did.

 

At least you could enjoy stronger beer straight off the shelf if you did. [/QUOTE]


That's a lot of beer but I like where your head is at!

 

Holy cow 400 is a lot. I think mine was 175 at either harbor freight or northern tool.

 

Furniture dolly and floor jacks.

 

Me and a friend just lifted the engine up for a few secounds, it was just enough time to wiggle in the thru bolts for the side motor mounts. We're both big guys though, I'm 6'2" 255lbs and I'm the smaller of the two. I have done it by myself though with just a floor jack but the engine wasn't fully assembled. Slid the block in first, put driver's side mount in, used jack to level it, then installed transmission and passenger mount, then did the head last and misc mounts.

There's also the time I quite literally tossed it in LOL

 

Rent an engine lift. 94

 

Yeah I saw that, a 1 ton is 179 USD at Harbor Frieght, the 2 ton is 239. The lowest we have here in BC Canada is 379 for a 2 ton at the moment. I swore I saw this on sale last year for 199, but alas..... We tend to pay a lot more up here north of the border for most things. Could be why the beer is stronger up here, helps us forget.

Actually, this sounds like a really good suggestion if you can't find a rental. I like it and have access to solid furniture dollies at my work.

That's the plan.

Yeah, this will be a solo plan with complete engine and transmission fully assembled.

I actually had the idea of weaseling the floor jack under the tranny side as it's raised a fair amount, possibly lifting that side into place for the tranny mount. Then use the farm jack to lift the pulley side up into place.

I'm fortunate enough to not have power steering so there is room to play.

 

Even it at $379, it might save you that much in damage or injuries if things don't go well without it.

 

In a pinch, I did what I suggested. Threw a furniture dolly underneath the full engine (with transmission). I used four jacks total... two were used to lift the sides of the car up so I can slide the engine under, then slid two floor jacks on opposite ends of the dolly to lift it up slowly and evenly. Slowly lower the car and then continue to use the jacks to raise the engine.

Line up the passenger and driver side mounts and you're in the clear. Lower everything, install the rear T-bracket and bolt and you're good to go... I did this with the intake manifold removed and no header.

 

This is a very valid point. However, rental is a better option as I don't have storage space for a crane at the moment.

Yeah, that's a bit different than I was thinking. But I also only have 1 floor jack, 1 four foot farm jack (high lift jack), 2 three ton jack stands and 1 dolly.

I was thinking I would use the farm jack to jack the front up nice and tall in stages with jack stands. Once the stands are fully extended, I should be able to remove the farm jack and roll the engine under. Then I can proceed to lower that car in stages. Once back on it's own 4 wheels we have about 6 inches or so to get either mount in position. Using the floor jack I was thinking I could likely raise the transmission side while I secured the pulley side with rope to my strut bar. If I can manage to get the tranny mount side bolt into place, then I can focus on raising the pulley side slowly and carefully until I can get that mount side bolt in place. After that I can secure the two damper mounts then raise the front back up to install the tranny mount, shift linkage and axles.

After picturing this and the many hours wasted in bypassing the crane.... I am leaning towards finding a crane to rent.

 

My friend had done it with one normal floor jack. Trick was to take out the suspension, knuckle, and arms (I think he did driver's side) and then jack the car up as high as possible from the front. Push engine underneath, then lower car all the way down on top (opposite wheel should be off as well). Should be barely low enough to get one side mount in with some careful maneuvering and a little bit of muscle. Then do the same with other side, could possible even use a scissor jack to aid the second mount but I think with what you already have at your disposal you'll do fine.

I was able to do it the same way but without full removal of the suspension, I was able to get away just undoing the lower ball joint and swinging the knuckle out of the way. It's mainly just to give as much room as possible to slide the engine in.

 

There's a shop here in Austin that rents out its space, they have everything you need to pull engines, redo your ac, etc...etc... They have everything you need. You just need to rent the space to work on your car.

 

They got places that will rent you a hoist for about $30 a day that can be towed. You just go down and pick it up and tow it to your house. They even got foldable hoists at Harbor Freight for like $130. They can fit in a full size car's trunk.

 

There used to be a place like this here in BC Canada. I think they ran into liability issues or didn't get enough business to pay the rent as they aren't around.

I've been looking for a rent a bay place for a long time and still no luck in my area.

 

Sucks...BUT you can do one!!!

 

It's better to be safe than sorry.

 

Its real easy with head and transmission off, if you want to install fully assembled I would use a lift unless you can somehow get the motor on some sort of cart with wheels.

as for the install I usually leave the motor directly on the ground or put a small wooden block underneath, and lower the car down to it, once mounted you can jack the car back up