Engine swap without using a lift

[Vilmenay]

On a scale of 1-10 how difficult is it to swap out an na engine in ones own garage without using a lift? I intend to swap the engines with the transmission top side. If anyone has done it, please feel free to respond with as much detail as possible regarding some of the more difficult aspects of doing this without a lift.

[mtcookson]

I recently pulled my engine out without a lift. I had to use some floor jacks and jack stands a few times and was definitely a tight fit, but can definitely be done. Compared to other swaps I've done... I'd put this one at a 7 or 8 as the engine didn't want to get over the cross member (pulled the engine out without the transmission so I'm sure that didn't help). With the transmission it would have probably been a 5 or 6.

[Zak427]

the easiest way is a 4000lbs engine hoist.....put the rear end on the highest point you can get it on jack stands. drop the front end down. and the engine and transmission on a stand. preferably with wheels. hook the front end tow hooks to the engine hoist. unbolt the steering rack and transmission mount. then lift the car up over the engine and transmission. i did the whole swap with auto to manual conversion like that in 8 days of 11 hour a day work days. pulling the engine and transmission and installing it was the easiest part. 1 hour to pull maybe....an hour to install.not counting all the connections other than steering rack and mounts.

Very do able.

Zak

[Canyoncarver]

Not that it can't be done, but why? ..... and good luck.

[freakonaleash1187]

I have seen a few people do it without a lift, so it has been done quite a bit. Just a lift will make it so much easier.

[Gino]

ive done 3 on jack stands...its possible. The 2nd one took about 2 days of actual work. I prefer to pull the motor instead of dropping it out the bottom, but thats just how ive always done them.

[evildky]

engine hoist FTW!call me cray but the cherry picker is worth every penny, you can get cheap ones for $200 at harbor freight, or rent them at lots of rental places, or find a used one in your local craigslist or paper equivelant

[tg]

1,000,000 times easier to take it out the bottom, get yourself some 2' jackstands under the reaar and leave the nose down until you get all the mounts off of the transmission and everything off the engine, drop the engine onto a wheelie pan, and then hoist the nose of the car until you can slide the engine/transmission out. Added benefit while its up in the air is you can do some under-car work quite easily.

[surferdude2215]

if your pulling it from the bottom will you need to remove the crossmember? because it looks to me like you would have too

[Canyoncarver]

if your pulling it from the bottom will you need to remove the crossmember? because it looks to me like you would have too

The FSM states to remove the crossmember before pulling the motor out thru the hood.

I haven't pulled one myself, but I REALLY want to hear from the people who have actually removed a VG30DE motor from under a Z32. I've looked at my car plenty of times and from what I've seen, the VG30DE motor, with the heads on, is wider than the frame rails. So please explain how you removed the motor thru the bottom of the car.

Thanks.

[Zak427]

it only seems wider. i squeezed it out and squeezed a tt motor back up through it with the piping still hooked and the efi harness hooked to the engine. then routed the harness through the fire wall on the way up