A well hashed subject with a slight twist. I am getting ready to do an engine swap on my gen 4 Camaro. I have access to a garage and lift. I have a friend who is helping me. He used to be a Chevrolet line mechanic at a local dealership. However, he has never seen or done a motor swap on a Gen 4. We spent a half day un-hooking and un-bolting things. Now he is saying that he thinks it is a total waste of time to take the motor out of the bottom. He has lots of reservations about it. Like removing all the ABS and brake lines. I have read a lot of opposing views on here about which way is better. If you have pulled a motor out of the top, would you still recommend a top side pull If you had access to a lift? Thanks.

 

If you have access to a lift, you would be much better off going out the bottom. I had reservations also, but a friend of mine and I dropped my engine out in my garage with only a cherry picker to lift the front end. A lift would have been much easier. Still, it wasn't bad at all and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

We put an ATV jack under the K-member and a furniture dolly under the trans, raised the front end of the car and rolled engine and trans right out. We left the front wheels on and it rolled nicely.

As far as disconnecting the brake lines, you only disconnect one connection to the front brake lines.

 

Out the bottom is the best. I used a cherry picker to lift the body and just pulled the motor/kmember/trans out the front. Far better, especially if you have a lift.

I'm sure he doesn't want the car taking up the lift, cause if you do it out the bottom you'd have to put the kmember back in to take the car off the lift.

-Dustin-

 

My 17 year old and I dropped it from the bottom with a cherry picker. We were nervous cause it seemed weird to me. It was suprisingly easy and had no issues whats so ever. We took a little longer to do it being it was our first time but I'm confident we could get it out in 3 hours or so if we had to do it again. That said I wouldn't even try to pull from top.

 

"Removing all the ABS and brake lines"? Read up some more on the subject. Two brake lines to disconnect at the ABS motor and that is it. I'd do it out the bottom without a lift. Wait a minute...I did.

 

Thanks for the input. Pretty much what I expected.

 

I've done it out the bottom both with a lift and an engine hoist. Down to about 2 hours to remove the engine/transmission together.

All in all, there are less bolts to remove going out the bottom than going out the top.

 

Plus it's a trip to see it happen for the first time. FYI, we blocked the rear wheels on a couple of old rims to raise the rear. We left the front tires on and rolled the front end out, no need for cart or anything to sit the engine on except a floor jack under the cradle.

 

I would want a little more than just a floor jack under the K-member.

 

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I leave the tires on, 2x4 between the lower control arms and kmember, and a floor jack under the trans crossmember, why would more be needed?

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I always did it from the bottom. Decided to try the top method once, what a hassle, it sucked! Coming out from underneath is so much faster and easier.

 

True dat Dave, nothing else is needed.

 

I pulled it out of the bottom. It was really interesting to say the least. I was very relieved when it was finally out. Thanks for the help.