engine lift points?

[J.Rizo]

I figured this would be the best place to ask this question. Does ANYONE have pictures (or a detailed explanation) of where the front lift point is at?

I need to lift my engine because i'm replacing my subframe but I obviously can't find the lift points. I've read that the first one is the easy and "obvious" one but I cant find it. My manual doesn't have anything and I don't have a Bentley yet. I've also searched through r3v, e30tech, and bimmerforums.

Don't get mad i'm asking a simple question, be happy that i'm taking my time so i don't kill myself.

any help is appreciated, and thanks in advance!

p.s I don't really need pictures, but please just explain where i attack this from. outside of the car, under the car, what its next to, etc. thanks again.

[Cronopoulos]

I lifted mine from the intake mani and exhaust mani using a balancer.

[lcoleman]

2x4 to distribute loads from a jack on the oil pan, then one of these:



Makes life easy.

[J.Rizo]

yeah see i bought that engine hoist from harbor freight earlier but i dont know exactly how to wrap the chains. and i wanna make sure i use that hook in the front because my surface im working on is kinda not level so i wanna do this as legit as possible.

[J.Rizo]

i guess ill just wrap it around the intake manifold and jack up the oil pan as well.

[TurboJake]

front lift point.

[dougie30]

I used the front lifting point like turbo jake said, and then wrapped it around the intake mani. makes it lift at more of an upwards angle and makes it easier to pull out.

[J.Rizo]

thanks turbojake! thats exactly what i needed.
but FUCK! my car doesn't have that. i went through the engine bay thread as well as google and noticed some other e30's don't have it either. what do i do noww?

and that lift point is to out in the open for me to miss it, so i know for SURE its not there.

[lcoleman]

That makes life a little more difficult. If you don't want to go through the trouble of sourcing one (they came on all US M20s afaik) and installing it, I'd probably wrap chains around cyl 1-3 on the intake and exhaust manis and lift that way.

[J.Rizo]

thanks man! i'll try that.

[jlevie]

Every M20 engine should have the front lift point. If it isn't present the part is missing.

[E30Gus]

You could also wrap a tow strap around the block in a couple places. My front engine hoist is partially held in with JB Weld because the threads for one of the bolts is cracked off so I can't use it to support weight.

[Cyrix2k]

I've always just wrapped a two strap around the motor or the intake; I don't trust the lift points.