I am looking for people with some experience here pulling an LT1 engine, and re-installing the same engine only modded. I am getting ready to pull my motor and modify it, then put it back in and I am looking for pointers on the best method for doing this. I just need helpful hints on ways to do it to make putting it back in as painless as possible, and not get things mixed up. Anyone have any good advice?

Please no "advice" on what I should do TO my engine...only tips on taking it out, and putting it back in, thanks! FYI the car is also going to be re-painted.

 

The way that worked best for me was to take the engine/trans out from the bottom. You can take it out from the top, but you have to unbolt the trans.

 

yeah, the trans is coming off anyways...I have to put in a new clutch and flywheel

 

Also, when you re-install the motor, put it in from the bottom so you dont scratch up your freshly painted engine bay.

 

I have done 2 of these motors in the last 2 year , both came out the top , remove the hood and front bumper, remove as mamy bolt on items as you can including the radiator and condsensor. Tear motor down to heads this includes removing intake, aslo remove the steering shaft if you leave the exhuast manifolds on. Hook the engine hoist as close to the lifter valley as you can. good luck

 

It takes alot longer doing it that way!!

 

Yea, it comes in an out of the bottom in a matter of a couple hours if you've never done it before.

 

Yea, its easier from the bottom. It will come out the top with trans attached and can be reinstalled same way if your careful. Its all up to you.

 

Drop the K-member... I have done it a few times..it goes quick.

 

umm the tranny does not have to be unbolted for the motor to come out the top...I pulled mine with ease and really had no problems whatsoever going out the top....left the bumper and all ac accessories on it and had no probs whatsoever....it all worked out nicely and when we put it back in it had the longtubes on it..I dont understand why everyone has such a problem taking it out the top...here is a pic

 

The key pulling it from the top with the tranny in is having the car on ramps our jackstands like the pic above, that allows the tranny to drop and gives you a better angle. Ive done it both ways, and i prefer the bottom. just seems faster to me.

 

I don't have AC.. and I have a UMI Tunnel Brace mounted Torque Arm.. so that saves some time..

 

Do you have a lift you can use? I took my engine and trans out in about an hour using a lift, and thats with putting the Kmember and front suspension back in.

 

I use a 4pt lift as well.. it takes a little over an hour..

 

I pulled it and put it back in through the top with the car on jackstands. Pulled it out without the heads on, easy as pie. Put it in with the heads on, but the intake off. Worst part was I scratched a valve cover on the cowl.

 

hmm I guess I just got lucky, but as you can see mine was hardly angled downwards

 

I vote bottom - i did it in less than 2-3 hours by myself on the formula

 

IVe never removed a motor from a vehicle at all. I am mechanically inclined. From the bottom how high does the car need to be jacked up? You would have to have a 4pt lift from bottom right?
Dont mean to jack your thread. Gonna need new heads soon and headers so prob easier to pull it right?

 

Uhh looks like its angled pretty good to me, you have to angle it alot more than say a third gen.

 

It will work from the top as that is how we did it when I dropped in my 383 a few years ago, here is a pic:




FYI - We left the tranny in the car and bolted it right up when we got the motor mounted. Good luck.