I was watching Horspower TV the other day, and they pulled an LS1 motor from a Camaro. They lifted the car off the motor instead of visa versa. The front end stayed with the motor. Is this the way its really done? Is it possible to pull the engine out the old fashion way with an engine lift and out through the hood? I really want to be able to do this in my garage without having to find a hydraulic lift somewhere.....

 

That is actually the way dealerships do it and that is the way it is installed when it is assembled. That is argueably the fastest way to install and remove a motor and transmission as a single unit given all you have the appropriate tools available.

 

when i pulled mine i did it the old fashion way out the top pulled the radiator and intake manifold and pulled it on out

 

When I pulled mine I did it out the top. I have done them out the bottom but you really need a lift. Getting it out the top takes some time but its not very hard

 

Excellent guys!! Thanks!!

 

It's definitely easier going out the bottom. You don't have to remove headers, the tranny, accessories, the intake, or the wiring harness. Just drain some fluids, undo about a dozen bolts, take the wiring loose from the interior, disconnect the brake lines & A/C, and down she goes.

I've done it both ways. "Car on Top" is my preferred method.

 

I vote for motor out the top, I've pulled my motor multiple times (LS1 and LT1) out the top with no issues.

 

1 Hr is all that is needed to drop it out the bottom. No special tools required. Engine hoist two drive on ramps. Look up my past post on this and you will see the pics I've posted.
Good luck.

 

I have mine out now but my buddy has a lift. It took about 2hrs. Thats getting everything out and the tranny apart from the motor. I have some pics of it.

 

Took Matt baskett and I 3 hours to pull the motor/tranny out the top.

It took CJ at RPM 50min to drop it out the bottom.

Bottom is much much faster if you know what u are doing. If you dont have a lift get the engine hoist out and start wrenching.

 

My buddy and I took mine out the top in 3 hours with the balancer and bell houssing still installed. I think it will be reinstalled through the bottom when I finish the engine though. The A/c doesn't need to be discharged. Just unbolt the compressor from the block

 

This is true....The fastest I have ever done it is having the motor and tranny out and the motor on the engine stand w/out accessories in 45min. That was on a quick day though. It is much easier to do through the bottom if you have a lift. If you don't it can be done with a little more work through the top. I have done it both ways. I curse alot more through the top though....I can tell you that much.

 

If ya got a rack in a shop out the bottom, if not theres only one other way up!

 

the only way to do it

 

Those of you that pull it out the bottom (without having a lift), what do you set the engine on to roll it out from underneath the car? Where do you attach the hoist to the car to lift if off the engine?

 

I've read they attach to the radiator support. For the motor I've read of a creeper used or something they built rather quickly ( boards w/wheels ).

 

How about an ATV Jack under the cross member?

Brad

 

I Have Pulled Two Of Them Out From The Bottom. Really Easy And Fast. Took Me And My Brother With No Lift About An Hour And 15 Min The First Time, And About 50 Min The Second Time I Did It.

I Hooked The Engine Hoist To The Radiator Support And Jacked It Right Up.

 

I grab off of the bumper support but the core support will work too. I have a Home Depot cart that I modified to let the motor and trany on etc... First few times I used Jacks, but it was not as easy to manuver but the time savings out weights the hasle. I have a few pic also.

 

All over it. I will do that once I kill the stock short block