Still Trying to get thiis damn engine out!

[superloaf]

wow, what a pain! got the drive shaft off and thought i'd have that engine out in 10 minutes but the italian car repair gods have another plan for me i guess.

any tips on freeing engine from chassis? everything's unbolted and free & engine should just lift out but of course it doesn't. it looks like the job of getting the flywheel past the steering rack is a tricky one. (BTW how do you change a steering rack with the engine in the car? it doesn't look possible.) does the engine have to come out at a big angle or is it just a slight tip? the car is level--i read some views on front end being lower is the way to do it but don't really want to do that at this point.

oh, well, any secrets at this point?

[Murray]

Bob don't worry you're almost there ! You pretty well have to jack up the rear because you need to have someone under the car while you're jacking the engine and pulling forward.The rear engine mount gets hung up in the bell housing tunnel and someone needs to be under there with a prybar tipping the tail end of the engine down while you tip the front up with the hoist.Make sure the car is really solidly supported unless you send your mother in law under there Also watch out for the driver-side valve cover because it is designed to crush the brake fluid resevoir while you're doing all this.

[superloaf]

murray, thanks and i saw your similar answers to other "first timers" on the alfagtv6.com site. we all appreciate the help and someday when i see someone trying to yank an engine for the first time i'll be able to offer some help.

so what angle does the engine need to tip to clear the steering rack and free the bell housing? i'm just not sure if i should be aiming for a steep angle with the rear engine mount pulled away from the body or only slightly to clear?

also, i'm working alone at this point and i don't have any lever mounted to the rear mount as called for in the service manual--

[AR4me]

Quote:

BTW how do you change a steering rack with the engine in the car? it doesn't look possible.

[Murray]

Bob no I would describe the angle as slight,to much and the rear of the valve cover will hit the brake resevoir.You really need someone to assist.I don't think it's possible alone but see I hope that you can prove me wrong

[superloaf]

jeez, i'm surprised the service manual doesn't specify the exact angle because it looks like if you're off by 1 degree, it ain't coming out!

back and forth, back and forth, jack up the hoist. oops, hits brake reservoir. let it down, it hits rack. another jack under the front of oil pan to allow more angles. blah, blah, blah!

ok, the italian car mechanic insanity has begun to set in.

i'll get it--back i go to wrangle for another hour. i can almost imagine the engine free from the car. i can see the end in sight.

and i think i can get it by myself. (italian car people don't have friends, do they?)

all right, off i go. if you don't hear from me within 3 hours, send a search party . . . .

[nizam]

Godspeed soldier!

[slyalfa]

I did mine by myself. when It went back in I cheated and used a Come-A-Long on the front of the block to my lift. That pulled the front up a bit and helps keep it stable.

[AR4me]

I think superloaf deserves a special Alfisti recognition for persistence for first time engine removal single handed, and this with everything in place - not like a stripped engine and bay.
Jes

[nizam]

I agree. I was wondering when he was going to ask what type of sawzall blade he needed to cut stuff off, and what was APE's number

[Murray]

Owning an Alfa and doing your own work builds character and makes that V6 scream sound that much sweeter once she's back out on the road.

[superloaf]

thanks, guys, and i couldn't have done it without you!

and it is officially out. just a little wiggling (ok, a hell of a lot of wiggling) and out it came. not exactly sure what i did. but the angle is very slight with more of a frontal motion versus an actual angle. then once it clears the steering rack the rest is easy.

it sure looks good hanging on that lift. ok, i know it's not a ferrari v12 or anything but it sure is pretty!

so now you can all relax--no more dumb questions from me! oh, wait, now i've got to put my new engine back in. but that'll be easy, right? it just slides in like prosciutto & melon--no problems with the install--probably take no more than a half hour or so--right, guys?

sorry, just trying to maintain an air of illusion because i know that drive shaft is going to be a pain!

cheers, guys, and watch this space for more clueless questions about installation and how to renew a donut with superglue and ricotta!

[75evo]

Superloaf,

A couple of things which may make it easier to remove the engine (eventhough you have it out) and may help you when re-installing.

1-Did you take out the radiator? That will buy you 1-2" of space (and not damage the rad)
2-Jacking the rear of the car up will help
3- Opening the hood to its "engine servicing position" helps (undo 2 bolts on the hinge)

[superloaf]

what's #2 mean? don't understand.

yeah, i took out radiator--can't imagine getting the engine out with it still in place.

and, ahhh, that's what that strange second hinge was on the hood--i removed the hood with the 4 hood mounting bolts and was wondering what those extra bolts were for. that's a good thing to know for future projects.

[Craig]

#2 was a typo, cap should be car.

2-Jacking the rear of the car up will help