I considered and researched that option. There is something intimidating about it. I've only pulled engines from the top, on simpler cars (1969 GTO; 1967 Lemans; 1976 Trans Am) so getting the car up high enough and dropping the whole cradle is new. I wish I had a car buddy to offer some local support. I've gotten lost on projects before, in over my head, and that's not a good feeling.

I have all sorts of Vise grips and special wrenches and sockets and whatnot. With that flare wrench, I found that leverage was working against me. I just didn't have any room to put my weight into the wrench, and I didn't have enough room to use a long handled tool, therefore I tried tapping with a hammer. Tight sure is the right word for the access!

 

I have personally only gone from the top on these, but will be going out the bottom if it ever happens again.

Where are you located?

 

I did find in the various forums that some guys say coming out the top with the engine is a viable option.

I am in western Massachusetts. I used to have one treasured car buddy, but he moved to Philly so every project is a one man project now.

 

That would be one hell of a drive, you could always move to Vegas

Going from the top is totally doable (in and out). I would do from the bottom moving forward so the transmission can go with it, and not having to remove the hood. For my last project, I needed to get the wipers off to replace the cowl cover and remove the nitrous purge lines, so I I just went out the top.

 

Here is cylinder 5 through my headers:

 

When I watch Kounting Cars, I see how awesome LV is for car people/old car people. I wish I was in an area with that kind of culture. We have some people around here who like working on vehicles, but I think they are small in number.

Your headers definitely seem to offer a bit more access to #5 than the Edelbrock shorties that I have on my ride. Also, it looks like I could eat dinner off of that engine. Damn.

 

From the top it looked like we had the same style, shorties definitely are a challenge versus long tubes.

This hasn’t run yet, don’t give me too much credit!