Re-fitting engine and gearbox

[Donald360]

Hi all. A quick question about re-fitting the engine and gearbox.

I recently removed the engine (1.9 DG) and then the gearbox, prior to getting some major bodywork restoration. Now that I have, hopefully, fixed a number of oil leaks and replaced the clutch, they are ready to go back in the van.

My question is whether to put the gearbox and engine in seperately or if I should connect the two on the bench and then fit to the van as a single unit?

I'd love to know of your experiences and any pitfalls I should beware of.

Cheers
Donald

[cobblers]

I've done it both ways and don't really have a preference.

[Aidan]

I always do it as one unit, much easier to mate the box and engine out in the open, less chance of damaging the input shaft doing it on the "cock" which is very common with diesel installations
trolley jack with adaptor under the gearbox and engine hoist lifting the engine
alternatively get M0cki and his brother to just lift it all in and hold it while you do up the mounts

[cobblers]

I suppose it also does depend on the engine and what your lifting gear is.

My last one was a DJ, but I was working at the side of the road without a crane and since a WBX is pretty light I just lifted the engine alone in with a ratchet strap over a 3x2 across the engine hatch, they're quite nicely balanced and it was easy to line up onto the box even with very rudimentary lifting tackle

Wouldn't fancy messing about like that with a diesel, they seem about twice as heavy and the angle and shape makes them a bit of a sod to muscle about.
 

[Mocki]

If they are both out of the vehicle , its easier to put them back in after mating them up , as one .
I wouldnt take both out if i only needed one or the other out , but as they are both out then back in as one is the way to go

[Donald360]

Thanks for the advice. I think I will mate them together and fit as a single unit. Heavier but less chance of causing damage.

Cheers
Donald

[silverbullet]

For reference, a wbx with all its clothes on is circa 100kg, the transaxle around 50kg so the whole lot can be safely lifted with an engine crane at full reach but additional lifting under the transmission is advised for stability and to prevent overloading the lifting eyes on the engine case.