M20 engine removal with or without tranny connected?

[motorsports_3]

I am in the process or removing my motor. It is an M20B27, I have everything either loose or off, all that is left is to remove it. My question is, in your guys opinion, what is easier, to remove the engine and tranny all together, remove and drop the tranny, or just disconnect the tranny and lift the motor out. I am stuck here.

I ideally wanted to lift the motor and tranny out, but I heard it is not possible, or very very hard.

Also where do you guys lift the motor from? I know the bracket in the front of the motor, but in the rear where do you connect the chain?

TIA

[Pudmunkie]

Its possible all the ways you mentioned. I removed the last 2 with the trans attached. All I did was hook the chain up to the front eyelet (no leveler). With the trans attached it will pull up at a steep angle using only the front eye. You'll need to use a jack under the rear of the trans to help it over the cross-member.... Remove your radiator as well.

[e30s52]

Its easy to remove everything. You just need to tilt it alittle as you are pulling it. Very simple.

[BigSam]

+1 for removing connected. Much easier IMO.

[motorsports_3]

So how do you guys get the tranny to clear the rad support?

[hoveringuy]

So how do you guys get the tranny to clear the rad support?

Short chain on the hoist.

[lennon]

i wouldnt pull them out separate. i have pulled them connected without much trouble in the past. when i put my 24v motor in i will be dropping the m20/trans straight down after removing the rack/subframe/etc. i think this might be the easiest if you have the means to do so, but not worth it if you just wanna do a quick swap.

[dashboardmonkey]

i connect an end of the chain to the hole in the block above the starter other end of chain to eyelet on front of motor

[e30 335i]

Just jack the front of the car up and also tilt the motor and g/box on an engine crane. I did this removing my old m10 but then i installed my m30 g/box and all through the top no problems at all.:D

[motorsports_3]

Thanks guys, ill be trying this all tomorow.

i wouldnt pull them out separate. i have pulled them connected without much trouble in the past. when i put my 24v motor in i will be dropping the m20/trans straight down after removing the rack/subframe/etc. i think this might be the easiest if you have the means to do so, but not worth it if you just wanna do a quick swap.

I would love to drop it down, but with out a lift, being in my front yard, that makes it really hard.

[MattM]

together is easiest, i went from a running car to an engineless car is a little less then 4 hours, by myself, first time pulling a car engine.
I put the M50 with Zf320 attached in the same way just in reverse.. it went smooth until the load leveler busted...lucky it was almost all the way in at that point..





and that same engine bay now...

[motorsports_3]

I got it out today. It went really smooth. I couldnt imagine taking it out seperate. Thanks guys

[Major]

I wasn't spoilt for choice, so I ended up doing this:

Actually worked very well! :p

[BlUe E30]

access to bmw special tools helps out very nice for this kind of stuff also ;)

[7pilot]

So how do you guys get the tranny to clear the rad support?

Easy.
If you jack up the rear of the car, you effectively lower the nose in relation to the suspended drive train.
It also works this way if you run short of front clearance during drivetrain installation.

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