When dropping in a new motor, what should be on it? Starter for sure but what else? Would putting the head on while the motor is in the car be easier to connect plugs and wires? Then drop the whole top end assembly on? But then I would have to time it with it being in the car...
For those that have removed 2.4 and such what have you found to be easier?
its always been easier for me to work on the engine outside of the car. i have had to do the top end in the car and its a bitch IMO. up and down on the jack to get it in the right position etc. i spose it'd be a whole hell of a lot easier with power tools as i didnt have back then but yea haha
Come join us over on the Olds Quad 4 and Twin Cam Facebook group!
-Z Yaaaa- wrote:its always been easier for me to work on the engine outside of the car. i have had to do the top end in the car and its a bitch IMO. up and down on the jack to get it in the right position etc. i spose it'd be a whole hell of a lot easier with power tools as i didnt have back then but yea haha
I'd have the motor complete ready to drop it, save alot of time and it will save u from bending over the fenders so much, I'd take the wiring harness and lay it on the windshield and out of the way also..
99z for 2015.. I'm back bitches
Definitely easier outside of the car. I swapped heads twice, the first time I pulled the engine, the second time I did it in the car. By the time I got it stripped down in the car I wished I had just pulled the engine.
i assemble all my motors outside the car. i assemble the WHOLE engine and attach the transmission and put it in the car as one assembly. that way all you gotta do is attach the hoses and wiring ,etc, and your good
But what about wiring the starter around the intake? That dosent sound easy.
Okay. So assemble the motor the throw the intake on while its in the car. Or now that I thought of it. I could hold the motor over the car and plug/wire everything on the bottom end.
Thinking about doing a build log on here. What section should I put it in?
A little trick I have learned with the LD9 is to leave the crank pulley off... this gives you some lateral shimmy room when installing the engine.
I install LD9's with the exhaust manifold (or turbo manifold and turbo) on as well as the starter, belt tensioner, ac compressor... once it is in the car I add the alternator, intake manifold & fuel rail/injectors. Then the crank pulley and finally the belt.
I don't mind working on the front end of the engine while its in the car - it's the exhaust side I loathe.
-Chris-
-Sweetness-
-Turbocharged-
Slowly but surely may some day win this race...
I've never put the motor in with the starter on. I have done it wih the manafold compressor and alt on. I've never put one in a jbody. But from the looks of it, there is more room then an n body.
Awesome thanks for the help guys.
For me it all depends on what the goal is.
Painted engine bay? leave as much off as I can (intake manifold, exhaust manifold, crank pulley).
Going for a fast turn around leave intake manifold on.
Also depends slightly on what tranny I'm dealing with, and is it attached to the motor.
5 speed that is still in the car, crank pulley off for wiggle room.
I never leave exhaust manifold on as I find it gets in the way.
Intake manifold is really a 5 minute job to install so it does not matter so much.
FU Tuning
-Z Yaaaa- wrote:for an auto you have to leave the starter off to get the torque converter bolts in....
Very true. I truely prfer to deal with a auto on the outside of the car.
FU Tuning
Addicted to meth wrote:For me it all depends on what the goal is.
Painted engine bay? leave as much off as I can (intake manifold, exhaust manifold, crank pulley).
Going for a fast turn around leave intake manifold on.
Also depends slightly on what tranny I'm dealing with, and is it attached to the motor.
5 speed that is still in the car, crank pulley off for wiggle room.
I never leave exhaust manifold on as I find it gets in the way.
Intake manifold is really a 5 minute job to install so it does not matter so much.
The engine bay isn't being painted its a five speed that's still in the car. Exhaust is still attached to the car. I might be putting in the ho mani and cams but idk if ill need a tune to run w41 cams.
