Nick1234 Posted November 2, 2004 Report Share Posted November 2, 2004 I have to get a new tranny unfortunetly. I could not get a loan for a new car so im sol. Now originally i was going to pull the motor, but tonight a a guy i see at work here and there said i should drop 1/2 the subframe (when looking at the motor from the front, the right back L shape) and then unbolt the tranny and take it out there. Is that legit or no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TurboSedan Posted November 2, 2004 Report Share Posted November 2, 2004 i've never dropped the cradle to remove an engine/transmission but some people prefer to do it that way. it just looks alot harder to do it that way IMO but i really can't say since i haven't tried it. i've always used a hydraulic cherry picker and pulled it up and out the top. the hard part is just pulling the axles out first but even that really isn't too hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regal_GS_1989 Posted November 2, 2004 Report Share Posted November 2, 2004 If you have access to a shop with a hoist, I would drop the back half of the cradle and take the tranny out through the bottom. BTW, make sure that you secure the engine to make sure that it doesn't fall out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HokemBokem Posted November 2, 2004 Report Share Posted November 2, 2004 Take some pics of this job when you decide what your gonna do. IT sounds like a lot of work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patgizz Posted November 2, 2004 Report Share Posted November 2, 2004 personal opinion based on experience: its easier to pull the engine and trans as a unit than it is to pull one or the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midnight rider Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 pull both at once from above. unless you got a lift, the sub-frame method is a royal bitch. Heres a tip for you guys, ziplock bags are your friend when doing this sort of work. put your bolts in them and lable each bag so you know what bolts came from where. Its also a lot better if you drain all of your fluids ahead of time instead of letting shit run every where when you pull you engine and trans out. be sure to label every wire and hose you disconect with masjing tap so you know where it goes. Getting just one hose or wire off can severly screw with the way your car runs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darksyde Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 When i put my new 3.4 in we were gonna yank from the top but out hoist took a shit. So we ended up jacking t he car sky high and just dropping the cradle tranny motor and all. It was actually easy IMO. Going back in wasnt to bad either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick1234 Posted November 3, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 damn it, now im really in a pickle. If i do pull the motor though i can throw a underdrive pulley on it. I want the less work route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TurboSedan Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Heres a tip for you guys, ziplock bags are your friend when doing this sort of work. put your bolts in them and lable each bag so you know what bolts came from where. good idea. i'm a little different; i always reinstall the bolt or nut after i remove the part. for example: after removing the exhaust manifolds i will screw the bolts back into the cylinder head. also, i prefer to take digi-pics of hoses instead of labeling masking tape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitzel Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 damn it, now im really in a pickle. If i do pull the motor though i can throw a underdrive pulley on it. I want the less work route. Now what good would an underdrive pulley do, aside from increasing your chances of both alternator burnout as well as engine overheating? All to gain maybe a quarter horsepower? Doesn't seem worth it to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick1234 Posted November 3, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 well first off, the alternator has been replaced twice already. underdrive pulley or not, thats how it is. Second, from what i have read and experienced, it doesn't make a bit of a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canada Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Support the engine and drop the cradle..........then you don't have to mess with the cooling system, power steering, A/C, or charging system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no1kicker Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Underdrive pulley makes a difference...I don't see that as a good reason to pull the motor. Remember if you drop the subframe (completely) the front suspension and everything will come with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darksyde Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Underdrive pulley makes a difference...I don't see that as a good reason to pull the motor. Remember if you drop the subframe (completely) the front suspension and everything will come with it. The UD pulley is such a minimal gain it's not worth the money. IMO And if you have a kickin stereo don't do it. however it is pretty easy to do on the z34. you can drop the sub frame without taking the suspension......the struts, brakes or any of that need to leave the car. Just seperate the cv's thats what i eneded up doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TurboSedan Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 i'm having a hard time believing it's easier to take the engine and/or transmission out the bottom... am i the only one here who pulls them out the top? it seems really easy to me. pulling the axles out isn't hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl3196 Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 FWIW: The dealer pulled the tranny/motor out of the top and another shop dropped the subframe to do the trans in my cutlass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick1234 Posted November 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 from what i understand i only have to remove 1/2 the subframe, which is the L shape on the drivers side rear, and then unbolt the tranny and all and she will slip right out. I just need to support the motor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m0sh_man Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 i just removed the engine/trans and whole assembly from a 92 euro 3.4L i ended up cutting the tranny cooler lines and fuel lines, so it may not be the same for you, i didnt need those parts, i did alteast unbolt the a/c lines. i removed the whole assembly at a u-pull-it in 4 hours using hand tools and crank jacks. if i ever do it again, its all coming out the bottom again, very easy to do, i even removed the master cylinder and the radiator. oh just to rub it in some of you guys faces, the whole assembly only cost $200 with 115k on it and ran excellent. matthew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regal_GS_1989 Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 from what i understand i only have to remove 1/2 the subframe, which is the L shape on the drivers side rear, and then unbolt the tranny and all and she will slip right out. I just need to support the motor Thats right. i have worked with my friend and his dad (who owns a tranny shop) and have seen many a tranny come out of FWD vehicles (Mostly Fords and Chryslers). depending on the car, it will probably take about 1/2 an hour to remove and 3/4 to put back in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HokemBokem Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 from what i understand i only have to remove 1/2 the subframe, which is the L shape on the drivers side rear, and then unbolt the tranny and all and she will slip right out. I just need to support the motor Thats right. i have worked with my friend and his dad (who owns a tranny shop) and have seen many a tranny come out of FWD vehicles (Mostly Fords and Chryslers). depending on the car, it will probably take about 1/2 an hour to remove and 3/4 to put back in. Since you have to take everything off and put everything back on dont you think it would take more that a couple hours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HokemBokem Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 DAMN double posts :verymad: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regal_GS_1989 Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Since you have to take everything off and put everything back on dont you think it would take more that a couple hours? Yea, but this is a tranny expert who has done this several times a day for over 15 years. And this is just to do a direct swap, without any major fuck ups. ie. breaking bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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