Who has dropped a trans (G260) out of a DOHC E30?

[Wh33lhop]

I might just be able to rest the oil pan on the subframe and use the jack on the trans

But then again, I'd think twice about supporting the engine by a piece of the oil pan :p

I may get another floor jack, I just hate having huge tools that I will never use since I have nowhere to put them.

[evangreen]

It cant really rotate that much until it hits. I left the jack supporting its weight though, when using the oil pan to support you want to spread out the weight as much as you can and use a softer material. Using wood works

[rThor432]

How'd you do it?

I removed the exhaust. Removed the driveshaft. Disconnected shift linkage. Supported trans with screw-Jack (floor Jack works on jackstands). Removed the trans crossmember and lowered the trans. Once it was tilted I hit all of the bolts around the bellhousing. If you don't have enough angle you can jack up gently on the oil pan with a block of wood between the jack and pan. Then I just pulled the transmission out. Sucks that it's being a bitch for you..

[Wh33lhop]

I removed the exhaust. Removed the driveshaft. Disconnected shift linkage. Supported trans with screw-Jack (floor Jack works on jackstands). Removed the trans crossmember and lowered the trans. Once it was tilted I hit all of the bolts around the bellhousing. If you don't have enough angle you can jack up gently on the oil pan with a block of wood between the jack and pan. Then I just pulled the transmission out. Sucks that it's being a bitch for you..

Seriously, didn't even lower the subframe? I'll try it like this next time, if that doesn't work I'll try tilting it down like evangreen. Did you get rid of all the firewall insulation?

[rThor432]

Yeah man, no moving the subframe at all. I do not have the firewall insulation.

[jrdeamicis]

Seriously, didn't even lower the subframe? I'll try it like this next time, if that doesn't work I'll try tilting it down like evangreen. Did you get rid of all the firewall insulation?

That insulation if left in makes it TOUGH to get some of the bolts.

[rThor432]

That insulation if left in makes it TOUGH to get some of the bolts.

Especially with a ZF or 6-speed trans.

[triggrhaapi]

That insulation if left in makes it TOUGH to get some of the bolts.

OR

You have an engine hoist and you pull the motor out a little to tilt it, then it's a fucking snap.

[jrdeamicis]

OR

You have an engine hoist and you pull the motor out a little to tilt it, then it's a fucking snap.

There is MANY ways to do it.

Lift the engine
Remove insulation
Magic Voodoo wand
Jack the front of the motor up

This guys in a parking lot on a public street. So I don't think the cherry picker is going to be the best option for him at the moment.

[Aptyp]

is insulation necessary for anything else outside of heat and noise? Because why not just take it off and have it off?

[Wh33lhop]

That insulation if left in makes it TOUGH to get some of the bolts.

I didn't have much problem getting at the bolts. It was a bit of a bitch (had to use a wrench) but it didn't take that long. I wish I had known this when I was doing the swap though, I would have torn the fuck out of the insulation.

OR

You have an engine hoist and you pull the motor out a little to tilt it, then it's a fucking snap.

Why would I pull it up to tilt it when I can jack from the front of the oil pan to get the exact same effect?

There is MANY ways to do it.

Lift the engine
Remove insulation
Magic Voodoo wand
Jack the front of the motor up

This guys in a parking lot on a public street. So I don't think the cherry picker is going to be the best option for him at the moment.

Word. It would be epic doing that on the street but I'm going to avoid it if I can.

[jrdeamicis]

Just unshim the motor
Jack the front of the motor up (let the valve cover hit the firewall) [don't pinch any wires]
Drop the subframe slightly. [Don't break the bolt]
And try that.

You could always use a pry bar and start making some space.

Yeah, that insulation is a no go.

[triggrhaapi]

There is MANY ways to do it.

Lift the engine
Remove insulation
Magic Voodoo wand
Jack the front of the motor up

This guys in a parking lot on a public street. So I don't think the cherry picker is going to be the best option for him at the moment.

Yes, and perhaps a parking lot on a public street is not the place to do this kind of work. Nothing he tries to do is going to be easy based on the limitation of where he has to do it. It's all going to be sketchy.

[triggrhaapi]

Why would I pull it up to tilt it when I can jack from the front of the oil pan to get the exact same effect?

Well, because the oil pan is fragile and difficult to replace. Beyond that, a hoist will be bolted to the engine lift ring, which is designed to support the weight of the engine, as opposed to the oil pan which is not. Beyond that, you cannot securely lift the engine from the oil pan, so the potential result of that sad affair will be a broken oil pan and an engine on your face.

This is why I own a cherry picker and this is why I made sure that I got a place to rent that has a garage.

[Wh33lhop]

Yes, and perhaps a parking lot on a public street is not the place to do this kind of work.

Sure it is.

Nothing he tries to do is going to be easy based on the limitation of where he has to do it. It's all going to be sketchy.

Thanks for the help.

Well, because the oil pan is fragile and difficult to replace. Beyond that, a hoist will be bolted to the engine lift ring, which is designed to support the weight of the engine, as opposed to the oil pan which is not. Beyond that, you cannot securely lift the engine from the oil pan, so the potential result of that sad affair will be a broken oil pan and an engine on your face.

Right, so what you're saying is, instead of applying pressure through some soft blocks of wood or particleboard to tilt the engine back (the oil pan can take at least 100lbs of force spread out, which should be more than enough to tilt the engine back), I should rent shop space, have my car towed there, bring the cherry picker to the shop just so I can use the hook to tilt the engine back.

This is why I own a cherry picker and this is why I made sure that I got a place to rent that has a garage.

Right, well I guess that's the difference between you and me. I'm a college student, I have to use what little money I have as effectively as possible. That means living close to school so I don't have to commute (lol at renting a place with a garage), I own a fun to drive $1200 car, and when shit breaks I fix it myself, wherever I can. The end result is I get to say I did an engine swap on my only car in a ranch 40 miles from where I live, a transmission swap in my parking lot, and I'm not afraid to work in less-than-ideal conditions.