Engine/subframe removal. Together or one at a time.

[cleverusername]

I have everything disconnected on the 1500 engine, except the two mounts and the gearbox mount. Is it best to crane the engine out the top and the then remove the subframe? Or should I take both out in one go?

If I take both out, how do I get the car high enough to clear everything?

[SprintMWU773V]

Personally I think you'll find it easier to crane the engine and box out then remove the subframe. You need so much height and unless you have a secure means of holding the body up you'll risk it toppling over.

[cleverusername]

Personally I think you'll find it easier to crane the engine and box out then remove the subframe. You need so much height and unless you have a secure means of holding the body up you'll risk it toppling over.

Yes that was my worry, have seen some people achieve this with axle stands, but I don't know they manage. To be honest the older generation seem to be able to achieve miracles with no tools. Ask some who started work on cars in the 70's to lift an engine out and they will manged it with a rock and a couple of sticks. Though I have to say some of my father's generation have a hair raising attitude to health and safety.

The only way I can see to lift the body high enough is to use the crane and racket straps. I think i would be more comfortable lifting the engine out first.

[GTS290N]

If you can get an engine crane with enough elevation, and have a good buddy to lend a hand, and you're useful with straps/ropes and/or one of those fancy engine crane adjuster bars - take the engine AND box put through the top, it's definitely the easiest way. The angle is alarming!
I've seen photo's on here of people just lifting the car up and off the entire engine/gearbox/subframe/suspension assembly. It looks easy, but have never tried it..

[epcot_pete]

When I did my 1300fwd, I had a small block and tackle onto a beam in my garage with not very high roof. I lifted the body up and let the engine and subframe drop and pulled them out. On re-fitting the engine, sub-frame, steering rack & suspension (all refurbished) were mounted onto a home-made wooden fixture with 4" castors and pushed into place and body lowered. Seemed safe to me at the time...................but it worked.
Good luck
Pete

[shaunroche]

Where there's a will, there's a way!

[tony g]

Surely the subframe is not going to come upwards and out?
Its either engine and box out together through the engine then drop subframe down if needed or lift body off the lot and separate

Tony

[cleverusername]

Surely the subframe is not going to come upwards and out?
Its either engine and box out together through the engine then drop subframe down if needed or lift body off the lot and separate

Tony

Yeah, I understand that. The issue is lifting the body that high, it is something that would make a bit nervous, hence my preference for doing them separately.

[tony g]

Ah ok I read it as the lot coming out of the engine bay. If youre not doing subrame out for refurb I'd lift engine and box out of the top. After getting it ready, you can lower the car from the stands as low as you can and keep the chains/slings tight with the boom of the crane nearly on the front panel. Should give you max height then

Tony

[grahamwatson]

I took mine out the top. I followed advice from on here that it helped to get the rear of the car up as high as possible.

And this load leveller was the best 20 quid I had spent for a long time -http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-e ... d-leveller.

[Carledo]

And this load leveller was the best 20 quid I had spent for a long time -http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-e ... d-leveller.

I REALLY need one of these! Can't believe you can get one for £20 nowadays, the last one I saw was nearer £100!

Steve

[Mahesh]

Steve,

Have you ordered one yet ?
and does it come with safety screwdriver.

[Robert 352]

Gentlemen

The question was asked as to what is the most convenient way to remove the engine and sub frame? I use a method which works very well for me working on my own and that is to lift the car off the engine and sub frame assembly.

If the sub frame is going to be removed then the front of the car will have to be lifted somewhat to either allow it to be wheeled out on its wheels or on some form of trolley.

The question is how high do you need to lift the car for that to happen.

I think shaunroche’s photo demonstrates very clearly that you do not have to lift the car as high as you might imagine. You “swing” the car around its rear axle in lifting the front of the car, so yes there needs to be some headroom to allow for the height of the roof of the car, if you are doing it inside but you can see from that photo that you do not have to lift the car that much higher for the engine and sub frame to pass underneath the front lip of the car.

How you might lift the car, minus its engine and sub frame and therefore significantly lighter, is really a matter of choice. I choose to do mine with a block and tackle hung from a convenient rafter in my workshop because I have the head room to do so. I also do it that way for in this rather more earthquake prone country which I live in, it is a safer way to do so. And I choose to remove the front wheels and lower the sub frame and engine assembly onto a trolley which supports not only the sub frame but the gearbox too, for that allows me to move the whole assembly very easily, on my smooth concrete floor.

The big plus for me is that it is not necessary to remove items like the radiator or any of the other ancillaries and I certainly do not have the height in my workshop to crane in an engine and gear box from the top.

I am also now of an age where lying prone under a car doing up countless bolts is a bit beyond me.

Once you have the entire assembly removed from the car, all parts are accessible. There are photos of my method shown in the thread of my restoration. I would be happy to supply some measurements of heights required etc. the next time I take an engine and sub frame assembly out if that is of interest.

Robert

[cleverusername]

I have the engine out, the cheap ebay crane manged to swing it out without having to drop the front of the car.

Few things I would note, if you're buying a crane check the spacing between the legs, mine barely fitted under. A load leveler was invaluable, it made changing the angle of the engine easy. My 1500 didn't have any rear lifting eyes, so I botch something together using the bell housing bolt holes and a lifting chain. Now I have seen how high you have to lift it to get it out, I think I would spend £16 on one of those ebay lifting eyes.

Still it is out and it didn't fall off crushing me or the car.

Next the subframe.