[beamy45]

im going to try and have my engine rebuilt, but ive never pulled a motor.

any suggestions on what i should do and what i need to do?

1963 bonneville 389 auto

[Derding]

Here is an article that may help you.

http://www.carcraft.com/howto/1005/

[goatseeker]

Buy some small paper tags and tie them to any wires or hoses as you disconnect them. Label where they came off of so you'll know where to hook everything back up. You can do the same thing with a roll of masking tape.
Get some small zip lock bags to store nuts & bolts as you remove them and label these as well. Doing this will save you headaches when you go to reinstall eveything.
You probably already know to take the hood off.
If you have a garage, I'd suggest pulling the motor outside to make sure you have enough overhead clearance - unless your ceilings are very high.
I found it was easier to roll the car out from under the hoist once you have the motor up.
Use a load leveler on the motor.
Take your time - safety first.

[LPete]

Taking lots of pictures with a digital camera can be an easy way to keep track of how it came apart.

[Bad Karma]

If you plan to reuse head bolts Drill a plank and label each hole and put the corresponding headbolt in them. I was tolf if you are going to re use headbolts u should do this. I personally would buy new or go with studs.
Edited to add THEN PUT EACH BOLT BACK IN THE HOLE IT CAME FROM.

[sts]

I have always found it easier to bull the engine and tranny as a unit, even if you're not replacing the tranny, but I find rolling around under a car quite miserable work. That way, you don't have to fool around with unbolting the bellhousing from the engine, flex plate cover, etc. Also, I find it easise to stab the engine tranny in a lot easer than trying to align the dowels to the tranny.

[beamy45]

all great info, thanks so mcuh!!

[Kybird]

Get any manuals that you can track down that show all of the parts, wiring diagram, walk through the process of what you need to unhook and in what order. Unhook, remove, etc. and mark like everyone said. Unhook battery, drain radiator, make sure wires off of distributor, unhook ALL ground wires! Then track down someone that has pulled a motor before to keep you company! Dont be afraid, Dont be in a hurry!

[carcrazy]

Get a helper! Make sure you scibe around the hood hinges to get them properly aligned.

[kookykrispy]

I tend to disagree on the engine and trans together issue. I would say remove the trans first and then yank the mill.. its ALOT easier with them separated IMHO.

[mzbk2l]

Originally Posted by kookykrispy

I tend to disagree on the engine and trans together issue. I would say remove the trans first and then yank the mill.. its ALOT easier with them separated IMHO.

I'm with Kooky on this one. I did it both ways on 2 consecutive '67 Cutlasses; first car I pulled the engine and trans together, second car I dropped the trans first and then pulled the engine. It's only another 5-10 minutes under the car to separate the torque converter and bellhousing bolts, and it makes pulling and installing the engine SOOO much easier, IMHO.

Either way works fine, though - so it's just a personal preference. I agree with all the suggestions to 1) Take LOTS of pictures, 2) label EVERYTHING, and 3) get a helper. Even if it's not a wrench-turner, just having a significant other around who doesn't mind writing labels for the parts as they get put in ziploc bags, or handing you a rag when you need it can make the job seem a lot smoother.

[bobbyj1]

I just did my first one, it was easier than I thought. I just took my time. I removed the hood, I did leave the Auto trans in the car. I used a hoist and a leveler. The leveler is a must in my opinion. Although when I tilted the engine forward to get it to cleare the fron of the car, I was not prepared for the remaining coolan in the block to come out. :-) that was my only snafu. Hopefully I can report back in a couple of months about the reinstallation of my rebuilt engine!

Bob

[beamy45]

all the responses are great, i cant thank you guys enough!
i have a freind with a picker, but i dont think he as a leveler, so ill go and get one of those.
ill probably have the tranny rebuilt while im at it....

[johnta1]

With an automatic I find it easier to leave it in the car. Sticks I pull them together.

Make sure to support the tranny if leaving it in the car. Put a small jack or blocks of wood under the pan.
Make sure to take the bolt out that holds the dipstick to the engine.
As others said make sure all the ground wires are disconnected.
Also, the gas lines, the clips that some cars have that hold the tranny cooler lines, etc.
You'll propably find something that's still connected when you get ready.
As you're pulling stop and look for attached stuff.

[mzbk2l]

If you pull the engine and trans together the leveler is almost a must. If you pull the engine by itself, the leveler is really not necessary. I just use one of the lift plates that bolts to the intake when I do the engine alone.

If you're working under a low ceiling (8' or less), you're going to run out of lift before you clear the front of the car if you have a leveler on the engine; it just takes up space between the cherry picker and the engine. If you're working outside or in a pole barn or something, the only thing that will limit you is the total height of the lift - as long as it goes high enough, you can use a leveler or whatever else you want to put in there.

[69goatboy]

Remember the definition of an engine hoist:

TWO-TON HYDRAULIC ENGINE HOIST: A handy tool for testing the tensile strength of ground straps and brake lines you may have forgotten to disconnect.

Place some large peices of cardboard (flattened boxes) under the engine bay, and/or get some cheap kitty litter for the spills.

Good luck.

[Teej]

Great info... I'm actually bumping this one to ask about exhaust manifolds. Can I leave those on and just disconnect the downpipes?

[The Jury]

Teej you shouldent have a problem leaving the manifolds on. Just get the down pipes off and you should be good. I pulled a 301 out with them on and dropped a 455 back in with them on. You should have plenty of space in that nice wide pontiac engine bay.

[bobbyj1]

I got mine out with the HO exhaust manifolds left on.

[Steven S]

One more thing to think about, when you disconnect the fuel line from the fuel pump
PLUG IT WITH SOMETHING!!!
The first time I pulled an engine I didn't do this, and the next morning the appartment
parking lot was flooded with about twenty gallons of gas. Made the blacktop soft
and could have been real bad news with a little spark.
That was 30 years ago, and haven't done anything stupid since