I'll be pulling my engine sometime this winter to do a bunch of maintenance stuff to both ends of the engine (clutch, timing belt, oil pan gasket, bunch of other stuff, etc). I've helped do plenty of engine swaps on Hondas before and we've always raised the engine up and out of the car by first tilting the tranny end downwards, and then pulling up with the cherry picker.

Now I know lots of people also drop it down to the floor (usually onto a furniture dolly), but what's the best way to go about doing that? Do you still tilt the engine as it goes down? How do you get the front end high enough to be able to get the engine out from under the frame after it's been dropped down? I know my jack won't lift my car high enough to get more than the 3rd or 4th notch on my jack stands when I put the stands under the front jack points.

Some insight from those who have done it this way would be great.

 

Sounds like you'll be pulling the engine out the top. I've used the bottom method previously when I had a large A-frame that could hoist the car up 6' in the air. I mainly did it that way at the time so I didnt have to remove the torque mounts and such...plus I had the large A-frame to do it with. If you plan on doing much else to the car, I might suggest removing the tranny and then the engine. Its only a few extra bolts and always seems easier to me...assuming Im doing a clutch and/or taking the crank out.

 

Taking it out the bottom works good if you have a lift.

 

so with just a cherry picker it would be easier to pull it up above the car?

Not dropping the tranny before pulling the engine out. I've done that twice (drop tranny with engine still in car) and it's a royal PITA, and I also don't plan on getting a transmission jack, and most definitely will NOT be bench pressing another transmission. F that. I have chest pains for a week or two every time after doing that.

 

If you have a car lift then going through the bottom is the way to go. But I you are doing this at home in the drive way then the only way to go is through the top. Good luck

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PatrickGSR94 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so with just a cherry picker it would be easier to pull it up above the car?

Not dropping the tranny before pulling the engine out. </TD></TR></TABLE>
When I do em hare at home I use a cherry picker. Take em out the top trans and all. Unless it's an automatic, then I'll leave the transmission in the car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PatrickGSR94 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so with just a cherry picker it would be easier to pull it up above the car?

Not dropping the tranny before pulling the engine out. I've done that twice (drop tranny with engine still in car) and it's a royal PITA, and I also don't plan on getting a transmission jack, and most definitely will NOT be bench pressing another transmission. F that. I have chest pains for a week or two every time after doing that.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Comeon now....bulk up. Taking the tranny out is easy, however installation is the bitch. It never wants to line up correctly and you're sitting there half way bewteen on your chest and arms locked for like 20 minutes.....its no fun at all. A friend and I use to have clutch swaps down to around an hour though....which is pretty speedy if you ask me. I do recommend going out the top with just a hoist/cherry picker....generally its pretty easy once you get the torque mounts and rear mount off and out. Generally you can just rotate the motor a bit and pull it up level (and not have to tilt it).