16 replies to this topic

[Non-Ricer_Civic]

I need to remove my engine to rebuild it, but don't have a hoist. My friend has one, but it won't be available for a couple months. i honestly wont have enough money to get one or even rent one.

I'd like to drop it out without physically or mechanically breaking anything.



What do you guys suggest?

[chedda_j]

Drop it out the bottom. Lift the car up with jacks to get it out.

[Non-Ricer_Civic]

How high would I have to lift it? I have a 13 inch max height on my jack.

[xFactor]

A 4x4 piece of timber 6 feet long with two big dudes on either end worked for us at Lemons one year. Not as bad as it sounds...

later, matt

[rallyxcrx]

Yeah, I've said you could pull this engine out with 2 guys and a timber, but I've never tried it. I use a winch tied to a heavy beam in the ceiling with a 1/2" polypropylene rope. I just pull the engine, leaving the tranny and axles still in the car. If you took the head, alternator, and anything else off, you could pull it with 2 little dudes and a timber, Dave

[anjin]

I normally pull it up with rope and pulleys off an overhead.

[GENONE]

^^ Ian beat me to it... i was going to recommend that same method.

[Bubba]

How high would I have to lift it? I have a 13 inch max height on my jack.

You could always use jackstands to hold the car at the top of the jack's reach, then add blocks on top of the jack and go higher- be sure to get the blocks stacked securely.

[letank]

You could always use jackstands to hold the car at the top of the jack's reach, then add blocks on top of the jack and go higher- be sure to get the blocks stacked securely.

The underside method relying on jack stands could be a tad dangerous .... one of our guys took a civic on his head during a quake in WA state many years ago... fortunately he is a big guy and wrestled the car out of the way.... he was also by himself which is not a good idea.

Check the local CL, may be a good samaritan will loan you a cherry picker for the price of a 6 pack? Put a want add... and see!

[ballade]

Assuming the motor + trans are ready to come out (all fluids, rear mount, shift linkage, drive shafts, harness........ only two mounts holding everything in should remain.
Step one : place a piece of ply wood under the motor. take wheels off and lower the car right to the ground resting the brake disks/oil pan on the ground. oil pan should be resting on the ply wood.
I use two honda scissor jacks under the rad support (one on each side) to get it to this point.

Step two: unbolt motor and trans.

Step Three: start jacking the car up. once high enough use a real jack. depending on how high you jack goes you might need to place it on cylinder blocks, get some good jack stands which will be set behind the front wheels.
If needed the motor can be put on it's back and dragged out quite easily. even a piece of carpet can be used instead of plywood.

This method done correctly is quite safe. the scissor jacks are only for getting the car to it's lowest point and started back up.

Install is opposite of removal.

[chedda_j]

Exactly what ballade said, this is just about the same way I used to do it prior to an engine hoist. I also once took off the bumper skin and used a jack-all to raise the car, but it can be very unstable.

[NWClassicHonda]

I drop my Honda swaps out the bottom anyways. Much easier.

[Non-Ricer_Civic]

Well if it works out as I planned, one of my other friends might have his hoist free on Saturday. I already have my axles out, and my oil was missing when I last checked it, good thing my motor didn't seize! My coolant is all water so that can be drained on the ground without killing anything.


If it doesn't work out, I will probably do it the Ballade mentioned, seems easier than to find people to help raise it using a 4x4 and certainly beats having having to create a pulley system.

[kamikaze_fish]

Without the engine being mounted, 2 guys could lift the front of the car off the engine. It's a hassle but I've done it. Of course, 90% of the car was rust so I can't tell you how much weight reduction the rust provided.

[ballade]

Like JDM4DDA7 said it's actually easier to take it out the bottom.
It's how they go in from factory.