Response for "Dean" re: Q45 engine removal

[AZhitman]

Got an email from "Dean" on the Webmaster email account with the following question, unfortunately your email came back to me as undeliverable - Hopefully you'll see this:

I have studied the teck manuals which show the engine and transmission being dropped out the bottom. I have pulled many engines out of different cars but now I have this 91 q45 to do . I havent started the pull yet. I am searching for information so my question to you is this.

can the engine be unbolted from the transmission and be pulled out the top thank dean Dean - It can be done through the hood, but it's a HUGE pain. If you can get the car up in the air enough, dropping it down is way easier. It's also easier to leave the trans bolted to the engine and remove the whole assembly at once, as the upper bellhousing bolts are impossible to get to.

[goingbroke]

Thankyou AZhitman for responding to my question ! I just found your reply while searching the site for information on my previous post question. I agree with you that dropping it out the bottom is the ticket. But since I don't have a car lift I would like to cherry picker out the top. Can I get to the upper two bolts after removing intake plenum or an I just wasting my time dissasembling the intake throttle body asssembly with the hopes of being able to get to the top bolts. Sure appreciate any more advice you can give me on the subject Thanks Dean My e-mail adress is [email protected] I'm not sure why you couldn't send mail. Will check out problem.

[maxnix]

You will need 3 or 4 ft. extensions to get the upper bolts.

Way easier to drop it like the FSM sugests. There is a reason, you know.

[AZhitman]

Just pull the trans along with the motor. Like I said, it'll save you a TON of time. You won't get it out any other way, I'd bet money on it.

Even if you do, putting it all back together will be near impossible.

BTW, 2 reasons I don't reply to tech questions via email:

1) No one else can benefit from a private conversation2) I get a metric crapton of tech questions, and I'm not necessarily the best person to respond.

[elwesso]

removing the intake would be a waste of time to get to the upper bolts, best way is to use some hardcore long extensions...

I agree with greg though remove the engine and trans as a unit.

[goingbroke]

Thankyou for solving my delema whether to pull the engine out the top. It will come out the bottom now that I have information confirming it is near impossible to pull it out the top.

thankyou

Dean

[AZhitman]

Dean - Pulling it from the top isn't impossible, it's just harder.

And seperating the trans from the engine IN the car is damn near impossible.

From easiest to hardest:

Pulling engine and trans, together, from bottom.Pulling engine and trans, together, from top.Pulling engine without trans from bottom.Pulling engine without trans from top.Pulling engine and trans with one arm and your wife helping you.

[PopPop]

Thankyou for solving my delema whether to pull the engine out the top. It will come out the bottom now that I have information confirming it is near impossible to pull it out the top.

thankyou

Dean

Both are a lot of work no matter how U look at it. I have pulled engine and trans threw the top. Engine alone threw the top. Dropped engine and trans. both threw the bottom and it all depends on where and what and who U are working with. If U pull engine threw the top by itself U will catch hell if U are a beginner. I drain the antifreeze and oil and power steering/trans fluid and releave fuel pressure. Main Engine harness has to be disconnected and I remove radiator and hoses and trans lines and starter wires. Also take 6=14mm nuts off of exhaust manifold flanges and the two trans to engine braces that have 4=17mm bolts 8 total that attach to the engine block and trans have to be removed to access the converter bolts. Battery disconnected and I also remove the EGR Tube from the EGR Valve and the exhaust header to prevent damaging which is 24mm. trans dip stick is removed and trans cross-mount and exhaust hanger along with 4=14mm drive-shaft center carrier bolts to allows for additional clearance. I use the engine hoist/cherry picker to support the engine when I start removing the main bell-housing bolts. This prevents the bolts from binding when the Eng. and Trans. start to part. The top 4 are 19mm and I found it is best to use a 19mm stubby boxed end wrench that I attach a long wrench to so I can break the bolt loose. There after I can get my racheting wrench on to speed up the process and the bottom bolts are 17mm that attaches to the braces which at this point should already be removed! I have just told U the majority of the things not all like(removing accel. cable and MAF TUBING) ETC. and this was not in the order that U can do this. U can drop the motor and trans as a unit faster from the bottom but, U need the right Equipment and tools to do this. The VH45DE is one of the most MASSIVE ENGINE and Trans combos that I have ever seen in a car or truck.


Modified by PopPop at 11:37 AM 2/13/2007

[goingbroke]

Thanks for the information PopPop Today I started tearing into project. I've tackled some tough projects before but this engine change is hands down a doosy now matter how a person goes about it. Tomorrow I will have the accessories pulled off and do more analyzing at the complexities of pulling motor out the top with or without the transmission. Any advice on reinstalling engine to transmission after pulling engine out the top? Hey thanks for the info sure appreciate it

ThankyouDean

[PopPop]

Thanks for the information PopPop Today I started tearing into project. I've tackled some tough projects before but this engine change is hands down a doosy now matter how a person goes about it. Tomorrow I will have the accessories pulled off and do more analyzing at the complexities of pulling motor out the top with or without the transmission. Any advice on reinstalling engine to transmission after pulling engine out the top? Hey thanks for the info sure appreciate it

ThankyouDean

First off why are U removing the engine? Just make sure that U do all that U can to the engine while it's out. Check for any damaged or leaking parts. Alot of times VH45DE'S have leaking rear cam seals at the back of the valve covers. Valve covers leak on these also and some even have exhaust manifold leaks. I remove the 02 Sensors and check to see how they are performing. Some gut the pre-cats and some don't. Check your oil pan and crank and rear seals for leaks also! Position the engine on a slight angle instead of level to help with clearance during install. Remove your converter and empty and refill with fresh fluid or even better install a new converter or have yours rebuilt. Clutches normally will wear and cause excess slippage.

[goingbroke]

The car had an oil change done on it before I got it. The owner's son never put in the motor oil before starting the engine according to the info I got before obtaining the car. The motor only ran a short time before he shut it off after relized he forgot to put oil in the motor. After putting in the oil and restarting the car it hammered pretty bad. The motor is junk from my preliminary estimate, however the car is definately worth fixing. Thanks for replying to my last post. I am going to pull this thing out the top and reinsert the same way. Will let you know how it goes

Dean

[goingbroke]

Hello, Your information was the most helpfull I recieved on the web when I was assking questions about removing a q45 engine thru the top. It was a lot of work but pulling it out the top was a cakewalk compared to dropping the whole assy out bottom. Removed Intake/access to top bolts Dropped a arms and let middle hang/access to all bottom bolts. Remove traction pump let hang uP AND OUT. gOING IN WAS A PIECE OF CAKE TOO SPLINED RIGHT UP WENT IN THRU THE TOP SWEET. Put a rebuilt long block in and it giddy up and go now. And It is cold here again in Wisconsin, Happy New Year Dean

[maxnix]

Hope you rehabilitated the engine whiel it was out and the tasks are easier. No mention of chain guides?

Now that you are out of the engine bay, do go check the leters on your trunk.

[carfrk666]

YES!!!! it definatly can because when i rebuilt my engine i took it out from the top with the transmission left in the car, it took me about 2 days to do it tho, the transmission to engine bolts are a BIT SON OF A b**** they are torqued a whole lot and are difficult to get to the top 2, however never the less, it can be done