New to this site.Got a 98 camaro 3800 auto in the shop with a rod hamering.Getting used engine from bone yard.I can't see how this engine can come out from the top.I put the car in the air and it looks like it would be easier to drop the whole mess out from the bottom and just lift the car up on the lift after dropping it.Any thoughts.Thanks

 

when i had my engine swapped out they took it out the top too i dont see how they could either with the fact that the motor is so far back under the firewall

 

I took mine out the top but would not recommend it. You have to take off the upper plenum. It is much easier to just drop it out the bottom.

 

My bro and I did this about a year ago on his 99 V6. I was top all the way until I tried it. The engine is just to far under the cowl. We then went out the bottom. Smartest thing we ever did.....much easier than the top....plus you don't have to take most of the accessories off.

http://www.ace1252.com/images/DSCN1126.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/DSCN1128.JPG

Going back in was even easier than coming out. Just lower the car over the engine and tranny(as low as you can go and still get under the car safely). Like so....

http://www.ace1252.com/images/DSCN1110.JPG

Attach a length of chain bolted to each head, attach the cherry picker to the center of the chain. Have a jack under the tranny. I jacked up the tranny and my bro jacked the cherry picker when needed. I bolted in the rear tranny cross member and the cherry picker allowed us to swing the k-member over the alignment pins easy.

 

Just re-read your first post. If you have a post lift it's a no brainer.

 

Yup it will be on a lift.Set up a couple of jack stands,undo the main harness,take out the cradle bolts,driveshaft and cross member and lift it up!!

 

New engine is hanging on the lift.$500 with 84,000 miles on it.They butchered some sensors on it but it looks good.Not excited to get started on this job,but its for a friend.Sure it will be a learning experience.It's Saturday and I'd rather watch football and Nascar.Guess I shouldn't have dish and 5 tv's in the shop.I'll start on it Monday!

 

It's not that bad of a job. Now with a post lift, it be even easier. If you've never done it before, just take plenty of pictures and label connections with masking tape....1 to 1 or if your like me....just label, throttle body, IAT sensor, L cooling fan, R cooling fan...etc.

Good Luck with it and let us know how it goes!

After I was done, it fired up on the first start.

 

On my new engine they broke the exhaust flange bolts on the left ex manifold.stove pipe for egr from manifold to valve is broke,pipe from valve to plenemn is broke,hole in left valve covered with tape.oil pressure sending unit broke off,knock sensor right side broke.oil pan butchered and bent.have to buy a cherrie picker.$147 for a 2 ton folding unit,1 ton just went off sale at $99.No progress today

 

Man that has to suck. Sorry to hear that. Keep updates please,this will
help future swappers,we will be thankful.

 

Been dragging my feet.got most of the bottom stuff out.I've never seen a 98 so rusty underneath.This is a up north road salt car or on the ocean in the salt air.Converter bolts and driveshaft left,took the computer out of it holder and the small harness that goes through the firewall and laid it on the engine.most stays connected to the engine and is removed after the car is in the air.I disconected the knock sensor and the antilock harness's.easy to get to with the car in the air.have to take the front brake lines off the antilock unit.got sway bar unbolted from the frame.Next I'll disconect the struts at the control arms and remove the spindle from the upper control arms.Really not bad just a lot of little things.braces undreneath that join engine to tranny next to get to the inspection cover off.not much to do up top,hoses,fan wiring,fuel lines,pwr steering resevoir and 1 ac line.Will post back soon

 

I dont have any hands on knowledge of this but I was talkign with a mechanich and he confirmed what you just said, basically you get a cherry picker to support the motor while its raised then drop the body from under it once you get the tranny loose.

 

Wow piece of cake coming out the bottom!!I had to get off this job for a couple of days for other work.I can't see working on these engines under the hood everyday.what a painin the a$$.I know for a fact now that this engine comes out the bottom faster than you could ever pull it out the top.didnot disconnect any wire harness from the engine.pulled the computer and layed it on the intake.coolant hoses,tranny lines at radiator,front brake lines from abs pump.throttle cables at tb,drive shaft and big brace to rear.hot wire to starter so it hangs with car.didn't have to mess with the fan wiring at all.Y pipe{all 4 y pipe bolts broke off at flange} hardly had a drop of coolant,tranny fluid,brake fluid or oil on the floor.corse I'm a neat freak and I don't want to track that stuff allover!I put 2 jack stands on the tranny crossmember and 2 under the engine cross memberand carefully lifted the car on the lift and what a pretty sight to see the whole assembly sitting right there in front of me.Oh yes I had to dissconect the a/c hoses,1 at dryer and 1 at the condenser.easy and did not touch the radiator.Thank God for the lift.If I ever have to do one in the future,this will be the way.I know you home guys don't have lifts but this is the way to go.I would probobly do a v8 this way as well!!

 

I forgot a couple of things,I dissconected the struts at the lower control arms,the spindles at the upper control arms.wish I had a dig camera to show you all a pic of this sitting here!!sweeet

 

last but not least I dissconected the steering under the master,1 bolt and separated the shaft there even the resivoir slid off a bracket for the steering fluid and came down with the engie and not 1 drop spilled!