I need to pull the engine and the transmission out of my 1997 Z28, and have about 3 feet of overhead clearance. Most floor jacks and jack stands that I have seen lift up to around 20 inches, which won't be enough to get the engine and the tranny out from underneath (I am not taking the engine out from the top ). My question is: what have you guys done to lift your cars up so high besides using a lift? Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

-Fikret

 

Backhoe and a chain

 

cherry picker on the car 2 lift it higher

 

i know this probly isnt high enough but here.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/northwest-members/749889-ls1-swap-thread-w-pics.html
hit up post #21 if needed you could fab some blocks to go under the jack stands.

 

here is a better one
https://ls1tech.com/forums/northwest-members/744807-pulling-engine-bottom-pics.html

 

Only way I've seen it done.

 

I got the motor out of my Z28 by wrapping a chain around the front frame and attaching it to an engine hoist, sticking jackstands under it and dropping the motor out, then pulling the k-member out and turning the motor sideways and sliding it out (it was on a dolly) I got pics too....but it's a real PITA, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

Oh, and that all occurred in my driveway.

 

Well im bout to have to pull the motor out of mine soon bc she started knocking .. I think ill pull mine out from the top without the transmission.

 

get a dolly of some sort, unbolt everything, and use a cherry picker to pick the front of the car up, hooking on to the radiator support. ive done a R&R on two 4th gens so far and it seems to work best when you dont have a car lift

 

I used some 6 ton jack stands kinda where the fender bolts to the pinch weld, but on the frame. Didn't even lift the back end up. My 3 ton lo-profile jack only went up to 28 inches or something and I needed more. I took some 3 2x6's nailed them together for the extra lift I needed.

 

Why is everyone pulling the engine out the bottom? It comes out the top pretty easily. You just have to pull the transmission out first.

 

unbolt the K member, and the whole thing comes out easily.

If I have to do mine, it will be on a lift, and out the bottom.

Ryan

 

put the car on 4 jack stands. unbolt all the necessary components, leave the harness and comp. with the engne. disconnect the steering linkage at the rack. remove the driveshaft and exhaust near the cat-back point. put a moving dolly under the k-member and a floor jack under the trans pan or x-member. lower the entire assy(engine/trans/headers/kmember) with the cherry picker and jack down to the floor onto the moving dolly. now hook the cherry picker to the bumper brackets or rad. support and lift the car high enough to slide the entire assy out from under the car. be sure to watch the rear stands so they are stable when the car body is lifted. do not crawl under the car at this point! this has worked for me so far on all the f-cars. it =takes less time to drop it this way then seperating the trans and brining out the engine from the top. this way you don't have to remove the a/c, radiator, or even the hood! if nothing fights to hard and your good with wrenches, it could take as little as 2 hours this way.

 

ive pulled mine out both ways, top and bottom. The bottom was is def easier. I just wrap a chain around the radiator support, put my floor jack under the engine/trans and lift the car off the engine. I have a standard height garage and had plenty of room.

hell i even dug up an old pic


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i have always just taken the intake and front exc. off pull radiator and take the ac compressor off the motor but leave the lines connected then undo the motor and tranny mounts and u can pull motor and tranny out the top

 

I used a typical cherry picker and used mover's slings on the front frame horns (as opposed to chain). Made a dolly for the front cradle to rest on and just lifted the nose off the k-member. Really pretty easy and gives excellent access to everything on the re-install.

Chris

 

Another vote for the cherry picker. I just put my rear wheels on those yellow steel ramps. Got the rear up high enough...

Removal...



Installation





Its the only way Ill do it from now on...

J.

 

Chain to radiator core!! I did mine in a driveway, imagine the neighbors faces when i lifted my z28 off its cradle. They ar elike that fit in THERE? Bottom is way easier imo. I left it on jackstands with spares sitting under front wheel well so they couldnt tell ti wasnt functional!! (strict neighborhood) Anyway yiou do it its a bitch, but buy the How to modify ls1/ls6 book from autozone or borders or any retailer, it helps alot but is not all inclusive. Let me know if you need any help, just got my engine back in and running last weekend, so most of it is still fresh.

 

Thanks a lot for all the ideas guys, it will make life easier when time comes to pull the engine out