removing engine

[jimW]

I'm about to pull the engine out of my 84 excel in the next couple of weeks. It would be great to get some advice on where to strap the engine for the lift and how best to tilt it backwards enough to get the gearbox clear and out. Cheers, jim

[robertverhey]

If you scroll down on this page http://members.optusnet.com.au/~robert. ... llery.html

You'll see how I did it, attaching to inlet tubes. From memory I had to jack up the front of the car and put it on stands placed under the front of the sills (the wheels were off the ground) to give enough "Tilt room" to get that angle without rear of gearbox catching on the ground

[jimW]

Thanks Robert, thats really useful. I've just got to get underneath to the exhaust and prop shaft now .....not much room to work under there!

[smithersoli]

Use a decent quality rated rope on the inlet manifold so as not to damage the alloy, I use an additional small ratchet strap to adjust the angle where required. For the manual boxes use the third cylinder. I think for the heavier auto use the rearmost cylinder for it to balance at the right angle. Remember that as you tilt the engine and box, gearbox oil will come out of the propshaft hole. Would also agree re lifting the front end for clearance, I also put the rear end on axle stands for good access.

[jimW]

Thanks for the advice. Its a manual box. I must admit without seeing Roberts pics I would have been nervous to hang it on the alloy! I'll take it slowly.

[robertverhey]

Hi yes I remember being pretty nervous about that too, and I did try to spread the load across as many inlet tracts as I could. This is one heavy piece of gear! But at the time (maybe ten years ago), I did a similar search to you on the forum and that was the general consensus for how it should be done. And I vaguely recall the service notes referring to that method. It wouldn't hurt to take some of the load by hooking ropes around the engine mounts as well, but those centre inlet tracts are where the balance point is for getting the angle about right......maybe others have additional views/ideas.