Club 80-90 Forums

Hi, 

I'm going to attempt to drop my engine out, potentially using the wood, straps + jack method.

From what I can see, the approach is to support the engine using straps + wood battens across the 'hole', then use a trolley jack to slowly ease the engine down onto a trolley.

Can anyone offer any advice/insight into this process? - particularly RE: Where on the engine block to loop the strap(s) around? Tricky bits to watch out for (esp. disconnecting from the transmission) and anything else I might not have thought of? 

Thinking I will remove at least the exhaust silencer + muffler bracket prior to dropping it out, as well as any as many ancillaries as possible.  Not sure whether to remove the entire exhaust system - what do people think? (It's going for a rebuild so all needs to come off anyway) Most of all thinking about where to loop the strap(s) - and which places to avoid? 

Also I'm thinking to put the jack cradle on the sump. Sounds good?

TIA

Try and take as many photos of the process, should be interesting, understand the theory behind batons straps and trolley jack, have you thought on how to release the straps gradually in sync with lowering the jack and will there be enough clearance including the height of the trolley jack at its lowest point to remove it from the body.

Drop it down onto a piece of ply with a rope through a hole then just drag it out from underneath, you are making more work for yourself using a trolley jack.

Engine crane!!!

Buy one or ask around I'm sure someone will give you a lend of one for a weekend. Takes all the messing out and a lot safer than the other methods.

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I'd say borrow an engine crane or hire one, makes it so much easier and safer

5 minutes to make a purchase then you can raise and drop at will. You don't gain anything using a crane other than a lighter pocket. Just chuck your purchase in a carrier bag for the next time or try to find somewhere to store the crane, I know which one is easiest.
That said I have an engine crane ( heavy duty ) and engine stand that I will not be using again as my engine rebuilding days are over now so that would be for sale at a cheap price - collection only though as it a hefty piece of kit for up to 2 tons. My boat engine was the last engine that I did using it.

Have a read here

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=155022

TONYT25T25 wrote: ↑09 Oct 2020, 16:26 Try and take as many photos of the process, should be interesting, understand the theory behind batons straps and trolley jack, have you thought on how to release the straps gradually in sync with lowering the jack and will there be enough clearance including the height of the trolley jack at its lowest point to remove it from the body.

I will take photos & document as much as possible. 

The idea is to lower the engine onto a separate dolley to wheel it out but now that I think about it, that might not be so simple after all..

As for lowering, the plan was to do it inch by inch - alternating between the weight being on the jack + straps, or just the jack - so step 1: slacken straps an inch, step 2: lower jack an inch, and repeat. 

Now that i think of it, this might not be such a good method after all.. though I see that it can be done. 

I would discount the use of a trolley jack, you can imagine how unstable it would be trying to balance the engine on it, dropping it on a dolly or a piece of plywood as mentioned by Oldie sounds ok, and I suspect this has done before hence the advice, a neighbour of mine hired an engine hoist to remove an engine from his car, and he was there for weeks struggling with it, so I don't know how much it cost him.  I just realised as you must have, when you need to refit the engine you need a method of lifting it back into the bay.

I’ve never used a engine crane for T25s engine, always just use a trolley Jack for the engine and one for the gearbox to match the height , several petrol engines and one KY .

I’ll admit doing the KY would have been easier lowing it down from above , bloody heavy horrible things

I’ve done a few using this method: Take the rear exhaust box off & maybe the oil separator tower too. Axle stand under gearbox, engine on trolley jack and pull it out. Get a mate to balance the engine on the jack while you pull. The pair of you, lift the engine into a wheel barrow & off you go!

where is the OP ?

Hopefully not stuck under his van ?