C3 '71 Engine Removal

[Jim Callan]

I decided to remove the 350 so I can detail under the hood. The engine bay is empty, just the short block sitting there attached to the TH400. The car ia sitting level on 4 jack stands. This is what I plan - if there is a better/easier way, PLEASE tell me..
1. loosen the engine mount 'thru' bolts
2. remove torgue converter bolts
3. remove engine to bell housing bolts, leave 1 lower
4. raise engine enough to remove 'thru' bolts
5. contine raising engine to clear egine mounts
6. support transmission and remove the last bell housing bolt
7. seperate engine from transmission

Some questions - Can I leave the starter attached ? and will a engine hoist 'reach' from the front or will I have lift from the side ?

Thanks

Jim

[Dick W.]

Re: C3 '71 Engine Removal

Jim, sounds like a pretty good plan to me. Yes, you can leave the starter on the engine.It is bolted to the cylinder case. Just be careful and be able to still count to ten on your fingers when you are through Merry Christmas and good luck

[Jim Callan]

Re: C3 '71 Engine Removal

Thanks Dick..my thought wazs that the higher I lift before seperating the engine from the transmission, the better the 'angle' and easier to reinstall the engine. Any thoughts on lifting from the side vs front ? I plan to do this over the Christmas Holidays and considering I have never removed an engine, I need all the 'luck' I can get. Thanks

[Bob R.]

Re: C3 '71 Engine Removal

I think you would be better off removing a front wheel and lifting from the side. I was just able to remove the engine from my 63 from the front but I think your shark nose is longer. You might also remove the distributor from the engine before lifting. It could hit the fire wall and get damaged.

[Dick W.]

Re: C3 '71 Engine Removal

I think that either is good, personal preference I use the front. It enables me to manuver the engine a little better. Especially when reinstalling and attaching the transmission

[Greg L.]

Re: C3 '71 Engine Removal

Just my two cents...I also think you would be better off with removing a wheel and taking it out from the side. Make sure that the chain is good quality! I once removed an engine and the chain broke just as it cleared the fender. It destroyed the oil pan, oil pump pick-up and the ring gear...that sure got everyone's attention! Also don't keep the bottom bellhousing bolts in. Instead, use the middle one on each side just above the dowel pins. I know they are harder to get at but if you use the bottom ones and for some reason the trany gets lifted a little more than the engine, you would run the risk of breaking part of the bellhousing flange. If you are set on using the bottom bolts just make sure that the top of the bellhousing remains in contact with the engine untill the bottom bolts are removed.

[Patrick H.]

Re: C3 '71 Engine Removal

I prefer to remove the engine and trans as a unit, and then separate them later. It always seems much easier for me, especially when it comes to bolting them back together. That's only my opinion, though.

Either way, I agree with removing the distributor and starter.

Patrick

[Tom H.]

Re: C3 '71 Engine Removal

I have removed both big blocks and small blocks from the front of c3's. It is easy to put it back in that way. You can move your hoist around to position the engine just right. Tom

[Jim Callan]

Re: C3 '71 Engine Removal

I was hoping someone would say that.. my NEW 5yr old hoist is still 'in the box' so wasn't sure. How do you prevent the TQ converter from coming along with the engine ?

[Dick W.]

Re: C3 '71 Engine Removal

Someone has to get under the car as the engine is being removed and gently pry the converter from the flexplate. It is probably as easy to remove the transmission with the engine as was posted earlier. That would be a good time to replace the front pump seal, service the transmission and filter, replace the shifter, speedo, and rear tail shaft seals. Just as sure as you do not do this one or more of them will start leakings shortly. Remember, Murphy was an optomist.

[Jim Callan]

Re: C3 '71 Engine Removal

I just found out my hoist won't "reach" the engine, chain ends up at water pump. Now have to remove from the p/side which gives more room for hoist. Is it better to go "straight" in from the side or "angle" in from side. I would think it would be difficult to "pull back" the engine from the trany this way. Does anyone have any special "tips". I do have a load leveler which I hope will helpful. This project just keeps growing..

Thanks

Jim

[Jim Callan]

Re: C3 '71 Engine Removal

I just found out my hoist won't "reach" the engine, chain ends up at water pump. Now have to remove from the p/side which gives more room for hoist. Is it better to go "straight" in from the side or "angle" in from side. I would think it would be difficult to "pull back" the engine from the trany this way. Does anyone have any special "tips". I do have a load leveler which I hope will helpful. This project just keeps growing..

Thanks

Jim

[Mike Cobine]

Re: C3 '71 Engine Removal

The side is a pain as the engine moves back towards the hoist as it lifts, and thus into the side fenders. So from that perspective, stay as far forward as possible or ensure the hoist rolls easily so you can constantly move it in to the car as you lift.

Also, ensure you can move it sideways with a load so that you can move the engine forward in the car.

My preference is always a chain hoist from a beam, the car over a pit, and roll the car back out from under it. Chain hoists and beams rarely fail, if ever. But I have seen hydraulic hoists lose pressure or fall over, neither of which are pretty if the engine is still over the nose.

[Greg L.]

Re: C3 '71 Engine Removal

I was afraid that might happen Jim. Most "cherry pickers" that I have seen will not clear the front and as you say, end up just a little short. The overhead beam method is what I have used in the past.

What I would suggest now is to make sure that the wheels at the front of the hoist do caster. Some hoists only caster on the back and some caster on all fours(these are a royal pain in the a$$ to move by yourself). If you get the front to caster and the back to just roll, you can then more easily move the hoist around during the engine lift to clear everything.

[Dennis D.]

Re: C3 '71 Engine Removal

Patrick

What ground clearance for the engine/ tran removal? Also,I welded my front to rear pipes at the trans bracket Will the engine/ trans clear if I only unbolt and remove the exhaust manifolds and leave the pipes? .(trying to avoid cutting and replacing)