Stuck Pulling engine -need help

[Steve Lischynsky]

Im just set up pulling the engine on my 73 L48 4 speed. I set up an engine hoist with load leveler as recommended by this group. But, the hoist doesn't have a long enough boom. That engine is sitting 3 miles back from the front bumper!!

I put the four chains on at each corner of the manufold, but the chains are about 30 degrees forward. As I put load on the chains, the hoist pushes against the bumper, stressing the bumper. So I stopped,,,doesn't look right. I was doing this yesterday and would like to finish it this week.

The hoist boom is about 4 feet long from the hydraulic piston and is all the way out.

There's gotta be a trick to this. I'm thinking of replacing the telescopic section of the boom with a longer one from a local metal supplier. This will stick out an extra 1.5ft and go right through the entire telescoping section so it should be just as strong(?).

Everything has been disconnected from the engine and tranny including water pump, rad, cowling, distributer, PS pump etc.

A few other questions:

1)I've disconnected the driveshaft at the front universal by taking off the two metal saddle shaped pieces --is this correct. The driveshaft is still nestled in the other side of the universal.

2)I've disconnected the rear mount just behind the tranny by removing the two bolts that hold the bracket that are right against the tranny, but not the big two bolts that go through the rubber bumper. This looks correct??

3)The engine looks like it needs to be pulled straight up to clear the front engine mounts first, then forward to get the tranny out. The load leveler looks like it needs to be cranked to keep the tranny low. Is this correct?

Thanks, this is sure a lot of work.

73 coupe since new.

[G B.]

Please be careful

You were wise to have stopped.

Extending the boom will work only to a point. You don't want the load beyond or even near the front wheels of the hoist. This would make the hoist tip over or at least be unstable when rolling. I would rent a hoist with a longer boom. That would be safer and probably even cheaper than modifying the one you have now.

You will find it easier to avoid tearing the tunnel insulation if you remove the rubber transmission mount completely before lifting the engine. If you haven't already, you should also remove the distributor.

[Mike McKown]

Re: Stuck Pulling engine -need help

Have you thought of taking a front wheel off and coming in from the side? If you cherry picker has swivel casters, this should work.

Mike

[Pete VanSeggern #30920]

Re: Stuck Pulling engine -need help

If you leave the transmission attached to the engine when you remove it, the center of gravity and therefore, the lifting point will be much further to the rear than it would be if you were lifting the engine alone. You may want to consider pulling the trans separately.
There's too much that can go wrong if you extend the boom length without having a pretty good understanding of the physics involved.

[John H.]

Re: Stuck Pulling engine -need help

Sounds like you need a cherry-picker with longer legs and a longer boom; I have always pulled the engine/trans unit (with a tilter) from the side rather than from the front. My hoist has legs six feet long, and the main boom section is 46" long (rated 4000# at that position), with three extended positions every 7" from there, rated at 3000#, 2000#, and 1000# at full extension (the legs fold up for compact storage). Has always worked fine for me. Engine pull and install isn't that big a deal, but you need the right equipment to do it SAFELY; the link below shows what mine looks like (folded up).


Engine Hoist

[Mike McKown]

Re: Stuck Pulling engine -need help

What happened????????? Stuck a post in here about pulling transmission separate from the engine and being careful about pushing a cherry picker sideways with a lot of weight swinging on it. Now it's gone???????????????

[Steve Lischynsky]

Re: Stuck Pulling engine -need help

Your hoist looks exactly like mine from the picture you have including the loads.

I looked at pulling from the side but the wheel was in the way. It was getting late (brain was getting foggy) so it never dawned onto me to take the wheel off and move the jack stands further back so that the hoist can be moved forward.

I'll measure mine to see if it matches your numbers.

It was jacked up for 10 yrs, so every nut and bolt was a challenge. I had to cut the motor mount bolts off.

Thanks
Steve L.
73 coupe since new

[Steve Lischynsky]

Re: Please be careful

thanks for your response, I'm going to look at placing the hoist on the side and remove the wheel tonight.

But why remove the rubber back mount completely, it looks like it is part of the frame, unless it prevents the tranny moving downwards while the engine it being tilted. It looks like pain to remove all the brackets for the rubber.

Steve L
73 coupe since new

[Steve Lischynsky]

Re: Stuck Pulling engine -need help

Yup, checked the dimension last night and the hoist is exactly like yours

Steve L,
73 coupe since new
36372

[Steve Lischynsky]

Re: Stuck Pulling engine -need help

Thanks all for your responses.I'm glad you all set me straight

Steve L
73 coupe since new
36372