Hoisting out engine

udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
in Engine & Drivetrain
I'm getting ready to pull the d15 out of the hatch to swap my d16a6 in. I have done this once before just a few months ago but I have some questions.

I've seen a lot of people saying it is easier to just pull the engine and trans together at the same time, but last time I took off the trans before I pulled the engine. My quesions are: do you all really think it is easier to pull the engine and tranny together? And how should I position the chain on the engine if I pull them at the same time?

When I pulled just the engine out I had the chain bolted to an exhaust mani stud and the wrapped around through the intake runners on the other side. I guess it would work for me to do that again and I can just expect the thing to droop down on the tranny side because of the weight?

Any input would be much appreciated!

Comments

  • ragenasianragenasian Moderator
    I think it is easier to pull motor and tranny together. It will need to be tilted a bit to get it out and make sure you plug the holes where the axles go. Left the exhaust manifold on there as well and pulled it all out in one piece.

    263.jpg
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 103027804#

    My video on how to remove a motor/tranny - but I do it through the bottom - don't have to tilt the motor or anything!!!
  • SikocivicSikocivic Wagonist
    Pull the motor with the tranny and leave the wire harness on the motor when you pull it. 8)
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    So just to be sure.... I don't actually need to secure part of the chain onto to trans to make sure it doesn't lean too much?
  • CharbCharb Administrator
    udubrx7 wrote:
    So just to be sure.... I don't actually need to secure part of the chain onto to trans to make sure it doesn't lean too much?

    I bought a leveler from Harbor Freight. I think it was like $40. Worth skipping the headache IMO.

    If it's 2wd, it's easy enough to pull it through the top. Never again will I waste my time pulling a 4wd motor/tranny out through the top!
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    I'm dirt poor so I'll just have to do without the load leveler. And yeah it's 2wd.
  • evol911evol911 familEE
    You could drop the engine down, jack the front end up high and slide the motor out the wheel well. I've done that before and it was easy. I didn't have a hoist at the time :oops:
  • ragenasianragenasian Moderator
    Mine was 4wd and it wasn't difficult to pull through the top. If my lift would have been installed at the time it would have came out through the bottom though. Take your time and just be careful and it shouldn't be a problem.
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    udubrx7 - watch the video I posted - it will walk you through every step of pulling your motor out - it's very easy.
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    Yeah I have no problem with pulling the engine. Like I said, I've done this before, and it was really easy. I was just curious if I needed to have part of the chain I'm connecting to the hoist connected to the transmission also, since I removed the tranny first last time. Thanks for the input guys!
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    There is two metal loops, one on the transmission and one on the head. Put a chain between them and hoist it out, it should stay level and you will be able to negotiate any obstacles by rotating it.
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    That's what I thought when I went to do this the first time, but there aren't any loops that I could find. I know what you're talking about though, there's two big fat ones right on top of the block on my rx7.
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    ragenasian wrote:
    263.jpg

    It that a supercharged ZC on the shelf there to the left?
  • CharbCharb Administrator
    udubrx7 wrote:
    It that a supercharged ZC on the shelf there to the left?

    lol have you read his thread? You should...

    As long as you're considering where you place the hook on the chain, it will balance pretty well without a leveler. There's a lot more weight centered on the longblock, enough that you don't need to worry connecting a chain to the tranny.

    Take your time. And it should be easy assuming everything is disconnected.

    rage- you're crazy haha
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    Thanks for the input guys! I just got it out today. Especially thanks to stampern for the ideas on where to attach to chain, I got those from your video (it's so long!) and that made it easier than how I had attached it last time.
    183.jpg
  • JL56TCJL56TC New Wagonist
    Lol the input guys vid was a super big help.... I am a little curious why they wouldnt just lift it out the top since they have a hoist..... seems like a waste of time to take all the stuff off the botom like the main crash bar just to pull out the motor...as I said before though I vote for STICKY on the vid... it really helped
  • vtecn8ivevtecn8ive Senior Wagonist
    Sikocivic wrote:
    Pull the motor with the tranny and leave the wire harness on the motor when you pull it. 8)

    be careful if you leave the wire harness on there (I leave it on, but I'm careful) so you don't smash a connector... especially a main connector.

    I usually leave the 2wd Shift linkage on and just navigate it out. OMG the 4wd is so nice with the cable linkage!!

    Looks like you bolted it correct in your picture. There is threading near the number 1 intake and a bolt on the transmission that I use to lift it out. Never failed. I like the auto-levelers, definitely makes life easier.
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    vtecn8ive wrote:
    I usually leave the 2wd Shift linkage on and just navigate it out.
    Good to know! I was going to leave it attached but I wasn't sure if it would be easy to get everything out still, I'll definitely leave it on next time just to avoid the bitch pin removal.
  • XSPower-DerekXSPower-Derek Wagonist
    ive always had more luck taking the engine/trans out together... and imo its easier to have it leaning at a 45 degree(ish) angle with the trans leaning down...
  • NastyN8sSlamvanNastyN8sSlamvan New Wagonist
    I dropped mine throough the bottome with a floor jack. Then slid it off onto an old creeper. sure saves room and money. :)
  • bigluelokbigluelok Wagonist
    im gonna watch the video right now and see if i think i can manage.
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    After doing it a couple of times, it's a lot easier than it seems. The sketchiest part for me was just attaching the chain to the engine, I wasn't sure how it was going to want to lean, etc. I definitely recommend taking out the engine/trans together as one piece. I think the best bit of info in the video is how they attach the chain, there is an unused threaded bolt hole on the driver's side back of the engine right by the edge of the intake manifold and you can just put a bolt right through a loop in the chain to attach that side. On the other side there is a loop in the clutch cable bracket on the transmission that you can hook up to with a load bearing carabiner-type metal loop, you can get that at home depot along with the chain, just make sure it is rated to the same load as the chain or at least 500 lbs. Or you can go the sketchy route and just wrap the chain around the clutch bracket and then use a nut, bolt, and some washers to bolt two links of the chain together to keep it from unraveling.

    I personally think it's easier to pull it out from the top, but some people disagree.
  • debrisdebris Wagonist
    Buy a "load balancer" attachment and then you can tilt the engine any way you want.
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    Keyword: "buy"
  • morningbakermorningbaker Band Wagon
    Hello!

    I had great success pulling a motor without the tranny. I was very pleased with this because it is more of a pain in the rear to deal with all the things associated with the tranny if it does not NEED to come out. All the timing components, engine mount bracket and alternator need to come off so the engine has room to move away from the tranny. The clearance from the flywheel to the inboard CV Housing is very tight. I turned the axle so the raised part of the housing is out of the way of the flywheel for re-installation of the motor. ( I had trouble installing 'til I figured this out. )

    The second time I did this on a '95 Civic, removal and installation of the motor was very smooth.

    I know this is a late comment for this thread though I hope this info helps someone in the future!

    Thank you for all the information on this forum!



    1991 Civic Wagon 2WD
  • superhatchsuperhatch Moderator
    If you pull it out separate, have fun lining up the spline when you're putting the motor back in. :)

    That alone usually makes me take them out together.
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    ^^^^ what he said!
Sign In or Register to comment.

© Vanilla Keystone Theme 2025