pulling motor from top!
Either way, it's a bitch. I did it all by myself but getting help would make it easier, somewhat....
Oh, don't do what I did and not label all your bolts as they come out. I rushed through some parts and now I have a few stragglers and I dont remember where the hell they go!
For me it was easier to drop in than pull out. But when I pulled it out I kept getting hung up on the starter and oil filter/cooler. Back in I left them off and it slid right in.
Next time if I have the room I'll try out the bottom.
BUT, I had a huge custom-made engine hoist, built for having HUGE blown big blocks hanging from it, so it could take the weight of the whole front half of the car fairly easy.
The only thing I had to disconnect was the AC hardline off the back of the compressor, all the coolant hoses to the motor, and ABS wiring harnesses on either side of the motor. That was IT. I pulled the computer and entire harness out with the K-member, just stacked everything up on top and zip-tied it together.
I agree, not the safest thing in the world, but there's only a few minutes worth of the car suspending by just a chain and engine hoist. when it's hanging, keep yourself out from underneath the car the best you can.
It was also nice having a big 2-car garage that I could store all my stuff in. I had a complete drivetrain come out, and a completely different drivetrain go in...so I had a lot of room and a TON of stuff lying around.
If I had to do it again, out the bottom is the only way to go for me. The hardest (and most time consuming) part was measuring, cutting, and welding the tubestock for the cart together, to wheel everything out from underneath the car.
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time





