Ok I am going to be doing my first rebuild and i want to know something. I know removing the engine out the bottom is the way to go but i dont have a garage and work outside in a stone driveway. I dont mind doing extra work so what i want to know is if i removed intake, headers, heads, water pump, balancer, unbolted trans (a4), would i be able to pull the engine from the top? I wouldnt mind installing the same way if it can be taken out without to much problem.

 

I recommend you rent an engine hoist. Much easier that way.I removed the everything in front of the engine, as well as the clutch and pulled it through the top. Pulled the exhaust off as well. Took me 4 hours...

 

You don't have to most of that stuff if you use a Happy Hooker. You can Google images if you want to see it in action.

 

Awesome! Thats what I will be doing then. Do you take the intake off and bolt it on that way?

 

You bolt it to the top of the intake. Have one myself its a great tool.

 

which holes on the intake?

 

Fuel rail, get some new hardened ones and have at it.

 

ok, will do. I will post how it goes once im at that point. i have to rebuild an engine first.

 

I used the happy hooker and pulled motor and tranny out the top. I didnt take good off I unfastened the support struts and lifted I straight up and supported it there with a rope that was already there lol. My picker was way too short to nab it out at the nose so started on the passenger side and slowly worked it out to the front. I still had the crank hub on and if I remember it was the item thatbarely cleared. I still had exhaust manifolds on too. I had rear and front fairly level on jackstands. Will be going in soon. A few little things that slowed me down on putting new motor back in. Get the waterpump drive seal ordered and I recomend at leat one extra so you can have a spare if damaged. I watched a for of someone showing tips and it helps alot. I used the socket method. Probably will want new seals for the steam pipe or nod it with fittings and nice lines(thats were im at) dont forget to prime the new motor with oil before putting intake on. I also had to order a new oil level sensor as mine was breaking apart so old and brittle. Mine is manual tranny so new bolts and alignment tool as clutch was still pretty good. If your clearanceing ur valve covers for 1,6 rr golen engines has a good picture for that. Just plan to have extra time in case you need a non stocked part or any delays because impatiance usually leads to regret. Ive never pulled a motor and limited on my wrenching but with research and common sence and good labeling of bolts nuts and certain parts its not too bad if you have enough time. Plan ahead with any replacent parts needed as they can really slow you down. Some parts are gm only and a few are going out of production. The crank boltspacer was one for me so keep track of your spacer as I would replace the bolt.

 

Smart phones can make you look stupid. Autocorrect .

 

thanx for the info, i am hoping to get into this soon. I won't be able to get the car up high enough to bring tranny out with so I will probably just unbolt it and support it. I just worry I won't be able to do it. Did you have to turn the engine at all while lifting it out?I will do w/e I can to make this easier. I was going to remove the heads to get it out easier.

 

By the time you have your course of action figured out you could have had the motor out the bottom twice already.

 

Then don't buy the Happy Hooker. You won't have anything to connect it to.