How many guys here have taken the engine out form the top. Ive seen most guys just take the whole subframe assembly out of the car. Then theres the guys around where I live that say they can take it out of the top in less than 2 hours. Then again they are always blowing there crap up and have done it plenty of times.

 

I've taken the motor out both ways. If I had to do it again, it would be from the bottom. That way you can fully dress the motor, i.e. plug wires, headers etc.
If you don't have access to a lift, what I had to do was put car ramps under the rear tires. You will need the extra height in the rear as you lift the front end of the car up over the motor. I also used my creeper as a dolly for the end of the tranny so it wouldn't scrap on the ground as I rolled the motor out from under the car.

Other than that, it was much quicker.

To take it out from the top, I had to remove the headers, intake, and tranny. The bolts for the tranny are a pain.

 

I have gone out the bottom twice recently. There are just numerous things that have to be removed but the only problem I had was cracking the brake lines loose from the ABS. Everything else is pretty easy, just time consuming.

I had the rear tires up on ramps, but I did not need any extra rear height, although it would not hurt. I lifted the front of the car up with an engine crane connected to the cross member in front of the radiator ONCE THE K-MEMBER IS FREE.

I lowered the K-member with an ATV jack and put the floor jack under the tranny and slid the whole thing out beautifully.

I have not tried the out the top method but some swear by it, but if you search most prefer the bottom 3 to 1.

 

I just pulled mine out the top a couple weeks ago.......I used the TPIS happy hooker attached to the intake and it slid right out. I didn't even remove the hood. Took me and a buddy about 3.5 hours to get it out.

 

I go through the top, hood on, with the tranny attached.

 

I always go out the top. I use the tpis happy hooker as well. I dont like the idea of the car being stuck in the same spot until the engine is back in. Going out the top, I can still move my car around instead of it being stuck since it doesnt have any front wheels lol.

I pull mine tranny and all then seperate the two on the ground. Ive done it several times, with a T56, 4l60, and a th400. Usually I can have it on the ground in under 2 hours doing it all by myself.

 

I have heard of people doing this, although I find it hard to envision. I do believe you, I guess I just need to see it done cause it sure seems major PITA to me.

 

Its a little easier to go from the top if you keep the front of the motor higher then the rear. Just jack it up a little, pull forward, jack up some more, basically keep doing that until everything is clear. Ive never attempted it from the bottom. I've always just done it from the top since it is what I am familiar with.

 

Just pulled it from the top today. Piece of cake, by myself, and the car was on jackstands too. The TPIS Happy Hooker is your friend if doing it this way. There's no way it was going to happen with the hood on though. Here's the aftermath:

 

Another one from the top. I used a cherry picker and a load leveler. I left the trans in the car.

 

I have also done it both ways. Kinda to each his own.

Is that happy hooker made to support the engine + tranny it seams thin.

 

Yes, it's specifically made for plucking it exactly as shown in my pic. It's actually quite thick.

 

I also pulled it out the top with a chain, left the tranny in the car, put it back in with the happy hooker. I had to pull the front end of my car off to get the cherry picker close enough though. I cant go out the bottom, cause I dont have the room to do it that way.

 

imho i think it is very easy to remove from the bottom, you can leave everything on the motor and dissasemble on a engine stand,

also after i pulled mine i just threw the k-member back in and pushed it out of the shop, took like ten minutes

 

The 4 little bolts will scare ya but the work fine.