Engine removal question

[Vilmenay]

When removing a NA engine is it better to remove the transmission along with the engine? Do you need a lift? Is there a web site that has step by step directions that any gear head could follow when attempting to do this engine swap? On a scale of 1-10 how difficult would it be to do your basic NA to NA swap?thanks

[evildky]

I think you still need to pull the transmission seperately, not much more work anyhow, actually, might be easier than trying to wrangle the whole assy, not like the core support is removable

as for 1-10 depends on the person, the TT is a huge PITA, one of the mags did a n/a tt swap and on the road in like 18 hours, but it was an experienced team of like 4 guys, I know a couple of guys that said they can pull the TT engine in about 3 hours with just the 2 of them, things like a lift and good air tools make things go more quickly

[Milo (San Antonio)]

I pull the engines with the transmission all the time. Unplug everything on the motor and transmission, drain the fluids out of engine/transmission, unbolt the motor mounts and transmission mounts as well as taking off driveshaft. I'll probably pull off the downpipes for exhaust as well.

On a level from 1-10, it is a 10. I would recommend getting on to twinturbo.net and looking up how to do an engine pull as it can be a very detailed process.

I do have some advice on pulling.

1) Lay down carpet or cardboard or something for absorbtion...trust me. 2) Buy a bag of extra rags as well, you will need em. 3) Buy Ziploc bags and label everything as you go along. Some bolts/nuts are specific to the applications.4) Take your time when you seem to get stuck on something, as some pieces are brittle and parts break ocassionally on engine pulls. 5) Get lots of latex gloves (or Nitrile gloves as I prefer them) also some eye protection.6) Extra lights always help. 7) Pull the hood off before you do anything as it will eventually get in your way. 8) If you do pull the engine, prepare to clean the engine bay as well. Also, this is a great time to do 2 things (replace a wiring harness and to repalce steering rack bushings.

Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions if you get stumped along the way but definetely check out TT.net for their writeups as they have some great tech pages.

[Honad]

I've always thought it was easier to remove the transmission first, myself, but then again, I've always had a lift which makes everything easier and I've always been doing a new clutch, you know, "while I'm in there...

You can pull it out all in one piece though, I've seen it done, it just seems to me that it's a lot more of a pain in the arse.

[Milo (San Antonio)]

Says the man with the lift.....hehehehhe.

Just kidding wish I had a lift, it would make things so much simpler when I have to really get in there.

[LIBRILZ]

Do you do engine pulls without a lift milo?