Lifting engine without special bracket and trasmission angle?

Hi,

So i'm finally going to swap my I6 engine tomorrow, but it's going to be in my driveway because my mechanic is very busy.

I got a few questions.

1) I don't have the special engine tool (cf. picture 1) so how do I avoid the enging slipping and dropping forwards/backwards?

Picture 1: special engine tool


2) I plan on removing only the engine, so when I separate the engine from the transmission will I need to lift the engine + transmission simultaneously a little before the engine has a clear path to be removed? I guess the spline will be in the way?

Thanks

Check harbor freight or local auto parts store for engine hoist load balancer. Typically around $40 USD.



RE your #2 Q: Remove shroud / radiator, engine fan/fan clutch, etc.. to get room to move engine forward and away from transmission bell housing. You need to support the transmission as well. It is sometimes easier to remove both together. it is also easier if you remove the hood for total engine bay access. If you have an auto transmission, need to remove auto trans cooler lines as well.

Do you have a Bentley manual? Procedure is laid out in there.

I did a /engine(F3) in the bestlinks to find this, which may help:
- How to make your own engine hoist and engine support (1) when removing the subframe or I6 oil pan

Thanks for that Jason. I had originally planned on removing the entire front and rolling out the entire engine with tranny attached. I dropped that idea since that would require me to remove the condenser.

And yes I have the Bentley manual - I have printed out procedures from the: Bentley manual, TIS, pelican parts, various online DIYs. Together they almost form a complete picture, but I couldn't find any direct descriptions of moving/aligning the transmission.

bluebee, seems like an interesting and cheap fix if you don't have access to a hoist, and need to remove the subframe.

Originally Posted by Takechan

have printed out procedures from the: Bentley manual, TIS, pelican parts, various online DIYs. Together they almost form a complete picture, but I couldn't find any direct descriptions of moving/aligning the transmission

Since you're doing the research, it would be GREAT to have a list of the links that help a user most when doing their own engine swap!

I'd add it to this set of links I just put into the bestlinks from reading over two dozen sad E39 blown-engine stories.

- Summary advice to provide users who suspect a major engine repair due to overheating (1) & how to test an engine for blown head gasket, cracked heads, a warped block, cam seizures, contaminated bearings, coolant hydrolock, or piston, ring, or valve damage (1) (2) & a well researched reusable response to a particular user with a blown engine (1) & what questions to ask when severe heating-related damage is initially suspected (1) & what E39 engine swaps are most recommended (1) (2) (3) & how to lift & remove the engine (1) & where to obtain a new or rebuilt replacement short block or long block (1) (2) & why the E39 engines are so prone to heat-related damage in the first place (1) & real-world results from people faced with similar blown engine problems from which this advice came from (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) (24) (25).

This is a similar question of how to lift the M54 engine on the E46 side of the house:
- Engine Removal Lift Points

It would be nice if someone has a picture of the rear lifting hook.