95 J30 engine removal - From top?

[kgrant]

!st post in long time. Had to re-register. I've got a 95 J30 that needs a rod bearing. I tried the easy way, replacing from below but the journal and rod were in poor shape and it spun again very quickly.

I need to find a thread with pictures where someone has removed the engine and transmission using a cherry picker or hoist from above. I;m going to start on it soon. I've got a couple of months to spend without hurrying so all I need is some moral support.

I'll gladly include pictures and write-ups.

Meantime I'll search the threads for engine swap etc. Something where someone removed the engine even if they put a different one back in.


Thanks in advance. I'll be posting over the next few mo.

[J30tChumpCar]

I have done a engine trans (together) and serviced rod bearings from the bottom, also have pulled both from the top, you will not want to pull them both from the top unless you are junking the car as the angle of everything while pulling is extreme even with a lift and no consideration for the car it was no cake walk. What I have never tried is a engine only out the top but see no reason it would be difficult.

Not sure you want to hear this but as a master mechanic and guy that races a J you need to ditch your damaged engine and shop for a clean replacement motor with 150,000 or so miles, do a timing belt, water pump and tune up and wind up +$1000 ahead of trying to repair what you have and likely wind up with less headache.
Been there and had success changing rod bearings but I caught them right before they spun, once that happens you need a complete rebuild.

[kgrant]

If I didn't know better I'd say that's a picture of mine when I removed the oil pan. When I bought this car it had a bad knock. I drove it on the ramp to pull it home. My rod and crank journal were just to badly damaged. I gave it the old backyard try with emory paper but it went about 15 miles or less before it turned again.

If I could have pulled the piston rod out from below I would have it licked. Hey, thanks for the response. When I start the process I'll revive this thread if it's sunk to the bottom.




Can't see the rod cap very well but it's bad. The top one.

Look how gunked up the engine is with oil pan off.

And my bearing was laying in the pan. (what was left of it)

[J30tChumpCar]

The previous owner obviously skipped most of the oil changes and the scored crank has now contaminated the entire engine with shavings, the only way to minimally repair this is to take the head off, replace the affected rod and entire crankshaft plus all the bearings and pray the grindings didnt destroy the cam bearings(heads)
So breaking down a repair with approximate numbers:
Crankshaft kit $200
Connecting rod $100
Head set $150
Timing belt $40
and a ton of labor and still a question if everything is going to work out in the end
OR
A used engine for $500 + a timing belt (minimum suggestion)
As a guy that does this stuff all day its a no brainer, get a engine

[yodawill2000]

I concur..
That pic makes me sad for that engine..

[driverdriver]

Wow, never seen engine damage like that on a J.