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3.1 Engine Roll


SmoothSteve3

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Hey guys-

 

I've never actually done an engine roll myself........is it really difficult, or is it pretty easy? I've got the 3.1 Liter MPFI in my 90' Lumina. I mean.....do i really just have to disconnet the dog bone mounts and pull forward? I dont mean to sound stupid, but wouldn't that like break the exhaust pipes or what not (since they're metal, and metal doesn't really like to bend a whole lot.....:-) Also, once i've successfully rolled the engine, is it hard to roll it back into position?

Thanks a million guys!

 

SmoothSteve3

1990 Chevy Lumina

3.1 Liter V-6

Ride on White Lightning

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Guest Anonymous

Just unbolt the dogbones and pull. The exhaust will not break due to the connection right behind the engine. It's easy to roll back into position when your done.

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is it really difficult, or is it pretty easy?

 

Mine was real easy until I replaced all the engine/transmission mounts; now it's pretty stiff & a long bar (jammed into a bracket) must be used for leverage.

 

I don't know if you already knew, but the dogbone bolts that are taken out are used to hold the engine in the "rolled" position (provided that someone didn't change the original position of the dogbones - loop should be on bottom & closer to engine). Take out the bolts on the engine side of the dogbone, roll the engine, and then slide the bolts back into the engine dogbone bracket & through lower loop on the dogbone.

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Don't forget to set your emergency parking brake when you set the transmission to "Neutral".

 

If your coolant reservoir is in the middle then take it out the way before you rotate the engine.

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What is the point of the loops?

 

They give you a point to reattach the engine bracket that is farther forward. This will hold the engine in the rolled position.

 

AAAhhhhh, I see.. :oops:

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another tip i have is if you are having a hard time to get the bolts into that "rolled" position, then, have someone behind the car push the car foward.

 

We had to do this when i changed the plugs on my car when i got it. The mounts were really tight, so it didnt wanan roll that easily. So we used a 2x4 for some leverage, and i pushed. The 2.4 was then put behind the motor to hold it out, while we tried to get in the bolts.

 

This is on a 3100 BTW...not sure if its helpful or not. but in the real world, it should be qutie easier to roll forward

 

jon

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It is super easy on an incline with the nose pointed down.

On a flat surface, I've found Lisle's tilting tool works well (but binds when un-tilting).

If your car is pointed up an incline or you don't want to tilt it, you could try remove the alternator and bracket as an assembly (it can be unbolted from the cylinder head), but in my experience that is a lot more work.

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I shove a tire iron in the front right lifting hook (on the same heavy steel bracket that the dog bone attatches to) and pull forward... Gotta pull pretty hard, but I can get it done.

 

I agree that downhill makes it easier.

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