The twin cam motor in my 99 cavi convertible automatic transmission, threw a rod and I'm trying to swap the engine. The problem is It is seized, and I can't rotate the motor to access the 3 bolts to the torque converter.

I removed the oil pan and found lots of crushed parts in the pan. I removed the oil pump, which was badly damaged from the #4 rod hitting it. I closely inspected the crank, to see if something is lodged there, but nothing. Still I can't turn the motor with a 2 foot breaker bar. I rather just romove the motor, what can I do?

for the extra work it is just pull out the tranny with the engine. it reallly only 15 minutes more work

you can slide the torque converter out of the trans instead of taking out the 3 flywheel bolts, then you can get a wrench in there to get them out. the problem with this is you have to pull the tranny out with the engine cause there isnt enough room to slide the torque converter out enough to clear.
the only other thing you can do is pull the oil pan and pull rod caps and main caps till you get to the one that is causing the sticking. If you just loosten each of them and get a little slop, tap them with a hammer to loosen them after loosening the nuts that should get it rolling around again so you can remove the converter bolts.


01 cav w/01 3400 gam gt 4t45e

So is it just easier to pull the motor out from underneath, rather that straight up? I've done several engine swaps on other cars before, but all were by pulling the motor and trans together straight up. All I have to work with is a cherry picker, jack stands, a jack, and blocks of wood. Can it be done by disconnecting everything, then lowering the car until sub-frame is 6 inches above the ground, then using the cherry picker to lift the body off the motor/trans/subframe?

The other way would be to lift the whole car over two feet, to clear the motor out. How to do that is tricky! I could lift the car using the cherry picker and use my truck jack stands.

Neither way seems good, is there a better way?


1999 Cavalier Z24 convertible

Jo Mx... wrote:you can slide the torque converter out of the trans instead of taking out the 3 flywheel bolts, then you can get a wrench in there to get them out. the problem with this is you have to pull the tranny out with the engine cause there isnt enough room to slide the torque converter out enough to clear.

What if I remove the timing chain and housing then slide the motor apart from the transmission to reach the flywheel bolts? Then I could separate the motor from the bell housing by 3 inches. Wait, never mind there is only a 1/4 inch gap between the flywheel and motor. and a wrench couldn't bend around the bellhousing mounting surface.

Jo Mx... wrote: the only other thing you can do is pull the oil pan and pull rod caps and main caps till you get to the one that is causing the sticking. If you just loosten each of them and get a little slop, tap them with a hammer to loosen them after loosening the nuts that should get it rolling around again so you can remove the converter bolts.

That may be my best bet, I guess, by taking apart the engine until it turns


1999 Cavalier Z24 convertible

i would just loosen the rod and main caps the motors fawked you have the pan off. or pul lthe trans with it you will have to pull the motor on an angle tho


JBO since July 30, 2001

i have pulled and installed 2.4s from the top. remove your hood its not as bad as you would think

I finally got it to turn, backwards. I used a crowbar on the starter teeth on the flywheel. I was thinking maybe the crankshaft was bent after it threw a rod.

That was the Easiest motor I have ever taken out of a car, once I was able to separate the transmission. I didn't even need to remove the hood.

Now waiting for a little bit more cash to buy a new (used) motor.


1999 Cavalier Z24 convertible