Lifting shell for engine removal

9th July 2014, 10:11

Hi guys,

I've been dismantling my vtr over the past couple of days as I'm replacing the 8v with a shiny 16v engine. In terms of getting the vtr engine out, all is done and the engine is currently sat on a pallet - but its still in the engine bay.

There's loads of info on here and other sites saying the easiest way to get the engine out is to drop it with gearbox still attached, lift the shell and slide the engine out from underneath, but I'm struggling to see how the shell is lifted?

I had a play about yesterday using an engine hoist before it started pissing down. The how to guide on here states to attach the hoist chains through the loops on the front but the photo doesn't work to show what loops it's on about. I tried putting a bar through the holes in the subframe where the bottom hose for the rad comes through, and the matching one on the other side, but from a small test lift I could see it would easily bend the metal on the subframe.

In also tried putting wooden planks across the length of the front cross member, wrapping the chains around and lifting the shell that way, but again with a test lift it looked very much like it would bend the cross-member.

So how do I actually lift the shell up to be able to slide the engine out?

I've thought about just getting 2 large trolley jacks and jacking it either side to get the height, but that would involve buying more trolley jacks and I'd rather save some ££. I've already got a decent trolley jack that does the job, buying 2 more just for one purpose doesn't seem worth it.

Any advice appreciated. Cheers

9th July 2014, 10:20

Ollie, the loops you want to put rope through to lift the shell are the 2 chunky brackets from the bulkhead that the bottom arms mount to. I'll see if I can find a picture to show you more easily, don't lift it anywhere else. Lift it as high as you can and use tyres or axle stands under the sills incase the hoist fails while you're working on getting the engine out.

You'll likely want take it off the pallet and on the floor to make your life easier, once the shell is lifted the legs of the hoist will pull under the shell naturally and you'll end up lifting the engine out over the legs with a mate.

EDIT : Here's my shell, you can see where the rope is:

9th July 2014, 10:22

I use the towing eye and an engine crane. Works fine.

9th July 2014, 12:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by D4MJT

EDIT : Here's my shell, you can see where the rope is:

Thanks very much mate that's brilliant. I'll get it done tonight after work. Cheers!