Question on removing engine and tranny...both at once or each separately??

[Jeffu]

What is the best method of removing the engine and tranny (5 spd manual)? Can you hoist both out at the same time or is it better to remove each separately? ie: pull motor then drop tranny out. Any advice is greatly appreciated!!
PS: Entire rear fascia and bumper area has been removed.

[Nicholas R]

I would pull both together.

[Rich W]

In general, this is my recommendation:
- manual transmission, pull engine then transmission
- automatic transmission, pull both out together

Depending upon the "need" to pull out both the engine
and transmission (for frame repair, etc.), it will also
depend upon your mechanical ability (and friend's too),
how many helpers you have (if any) and what tools you
have available in your garage to complete the tasks.

If you have the right tools and assistance, it can be
easier to pull the engine and transmission together.
Remember to "pre-soak" as many nuts and bolts in
advance with your preferred penetrating oil.

[Jeffu]

Thanks guys! I have plenty of room and plenty of assistance. I also have a pretty sound mechanical ability so I am not to worried there. That's why I love these forums so much because you can draw such valuable intel from others that have "been there and done that!"
When I was looking at things last night it just gave me the appearance that it might be a "tad" easier to just pull everything all at once. However, we all know looks can be deceiving! At this point I am leaning towards pulling both at the same time.

[DMCMW Dave]

I actually find it easier to pull an engine - alone on an automatic than on a manual (it has to move a much shorter distance to separate them), but we do both types engine - alone all the time.

A time-saver about pulling them separately is that you don't have to remove the rear fascia (which is a much bigger PITA on some cars than you might think). You do need to remove the crossover pipe, but if you are doing this to take the engine apart it needs to come off at some point anyway. If you remove them together the crossover can be left in place.

It takes longer to remove the linkage, fascia, axles, cooling lines, move the coolant tubes, etc. than it does to remove the crossover, by a long shot.

This also depends a lot, of course, on whether or not you have a lift at your disposal.

[David T]

It really depends on what you are planning to do. You only really need to remove the motor if you are doing work on the "bottom" end. If you only need to do tranny work, you only need to pull the tranny. That is done all from underneath and is a pretty easy thing to do with or without a lift. The more you take apart the more you have to put back together so mechanics tend to do the least they have to do unless doing more makes things easier. On some cars (usually exotics) since it is so easy to pull the motor AND transmission they do it all the time. When they do that they usually do a whole service like belts, spark plugs, hoses, etc. On Lotus's a rule-of-thumb is if you have more than 2 things to do you pull the motor. Makes all of the work so much easier. Another reason is, if you take things apart once in a while they will come apart without breaking as opposed to if you never take it apart, that's when you start breaking things. Especially steel bolts in aluminum castings. Expect to spend a lot more money and time if pulling everything. You will do many things "just because you are already there".
David Teitelbaum