Engine out/in, best practices

[Gruffalo]

I’m replacing my original engine with a B28E.

What’s the easiest way of swapping?

Separating the engine from the transmission while in the car, or lifting out the whole engine/transmission assembly as a whole?

My car is a 5-speed.

Thanks


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[jangell]

I don't actually know what the best method is, but I pulled my engine and transmission to swap my 2.8L to an Eagle engine. My logic was that it was easier to remove the transmission mounting bolts from the frame than it was to disconnect the transmission itself from the engine while still in the car. Pulling them together also meant that it was easier to mate the new engine to the transmission (or at least it seems like it would be easier to do out of the car).

If I were to do it again, I'd probably do it the same way and remove the engine and trans together. I don't recall there being a lot of things that have to be removed to pull the trans (although it's been a couple of years now); I think just the trans mount bolts and disconnecting the passenger side e-brake cable. Everything else, like the reverse switch, you probably already unplugged when you removed the engine harnesses.

-- Joe

[powerline84]

My recommendation is to pull the back half of the car off. Louver , engine cover, rear fascia etc and pull the engine and trans together. Check my build thread.

[dmc4087]

Another vote here for removing both together.

[dn010]

When I did my swap, I found it "easier" to remove the back of the car as described above and then pull just the engine from the transmission, leaving that in place. I think it is easier to unbolt the transmission from engine rather than to go under unbolting drive shafts, shift cables, e-brake cables, hydraulic lines, mounts etc. Installing the engine and aligning it to the transmission wasn't an issue for me.

BE SURE you swap over the alignment dowels regardless of method. If you don't have them (if the B28E dowels remained in the original transmission and your dowels remain in the current engine leaving nothing between current transmission and B28E), you'll find out when you go to start the engine.

[David T]

A lot depends on what tools you have available and how much help. Probably close to the same amount of work either way but if you have a lift and an engine crane, it probably makes more sense to take out the whole "lump". If you just have an engine crane, taking out just the motor is probably easier but a little harder to put back. Mating the engine to the transmission is easier on the floor rather than in the car.

[SS Spoiler]

When reinstalling get some long bolts that fit the
bell housing, cut the heads off and use them as
alignment pins.....

[Gruffalo]

Thanks guys! A lot of knowledge and insightful comments here :)


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[opethmike]

When reinstalling get some long bolts that fit the
bell housing, cut the heads off and use them as
alignment pins.....

+1 to this, big time.

I did this when mating transmission and engine during my LS swap, and it allowed me to get them together in less than 5 minutes.

[chris williams]

My recommendation is to pull the back half of the car off. Louver , engine cover, rear fascia etc and pull the engine and trans together
It's how I always do them (and I have removed and re-installed over 10 of them) A lot of it depends on what facilities you have, if you have a full car lift then you may find it easier to leave the transmission in place.
Chris

[opethmike]

How I do it:

On the way out: Remove engine and transmission together, after removing most of back of car
On the way back in: Install engine and transmission together, ensuring that engine is now an LS