Pulling the motor out the bottom and tips or suggestions

cj428mach

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As the title says in the up coming weeks I'll be pulling my motor to install new Livernois heads and a few other things while I'm in there. I've pulled the motor on my Cobra once before out the top, I've dropped the Kmember for headers, and I've pulled the motor on a 4th gen Fbody out the bottom so I'm familiar with the basic concept of pulling a motor out the bottom.

I believe my main concerns are the A/C compressor is it better to evac the system and remove the compressor with the motor? or how easy is it to leave the compressor in place? I do own an A/C machine but I prefer to leave the compressor in place as the system is perfectly sealed as it is.

Is it possible to leave the power steering system sealed with out breaking lines loose? Like move the rack out of the way and drop the motor? again if I don't break the system open I don't have any leaks, plus I hate dealing with messes on the floor.

I do own a 2 post lift and plan to use the lift for the project, I think the rest I've tackled in one way or another, but I'd take any pointers you can give me.
 

hotcobra03

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I left everything attached going up

I assume it will go down the same

After reading it sounded like a lot more work going down.

But my help with headers installed
 

cj428mach

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I left everything attached going up

I assume it will go down the same

After reading it sounded like a lot more work going down.

But my help with headers installed


When I pulled mine out the top last time I left the power steering system connected and in the car and the AC compressor connected and still in the car. When you take the motor out the bottom those will be in the way so they must be dealt with. I've heard of people flipping the AC compressor up where the cold air intake goes but wanted some actual input on it, as well as the power steering system.

When I installed my headers I was warned by a guy that it makes pulling the motor off the Kmember difficult as the collectors like to catch the Kmember, so its just another reason to go out the bottom I guess, lol.
 

Black Gold 380R

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I have never done this Mike, but have seen posts where others have. I believe everything concerning the PS is connected to the motor and K-Member (i.e. lines, pump and reservoir). So, you shouldn't have to deal with breaking the system loose when dropping the motor out the bottom with the K-Member attached. Sorry, forgot about the cooler. Maybe you can unbolt it and bring it with the motor. Not sure.

Since the A/C lines connect to the firewall and condenser you will probably have to remove the compressor and keep it with the body if you do not want to break it loose.

Here is a link to a thread here on SVTP concerning this issue:

https://www.svtperformance.com/threads/engine-removal-03-cobra.899631/
 

bigja01cobra

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Out the bottom all day especially with a lift. I just rotated my AC compressor and tied it up on the front passenger side rail area and rotated the PS pump up on the driver side rail. The steering rack was disconnected and tied to the radiator support.

I do not have a lift and can drop a motor from these cars in about a half day, with just cherry picker and a fourwheel jack for the motor. If I had a lift it could be done in 1hr if it was timed.
 

P49Y-CY

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I 've always been curious about the a/c compressor too. Over the years I've tried to follow any and all sn95 threads about dropping the engine out the bottom, and while most folks say it can be done (without cracking the a/c system), they almost invariably have all disconnected the compressor from the system and kept it attached to the engine.

The way the lines look though, I ve always thought it can be done if you're very careful.
 

cj428mach

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Out the bottom all day especially with a lift. I just rotated my AC compressor and tied it up on the front passenger side rail area and rotated the PS pump up on the driver side rail. The steering rack was disconnected and tied to the radiator support.

I do not have a lift and can drop a motor from these cars in about a half day, with just cherry picker and a fourwheel jack for the motor. If I had a lift it could be done in 1hr if it was timed.

So the rack you disconnected from the Kmember but kept the lines hooked up?
 

bigja01cobra

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Yes tie rods removed, steering column, and two bolts through the k-member than flipped it up and forward and wire tied it to radiator support.
 

cj428mach

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Yes tie rods removed, steering column, and two bolts through the k-member than flipped it up and forward and wire tied it to radiator support.

Sweet you just made my day now I only have to deal with coolant getting everywhere lol. Last time I blew compressed air through my hoses and caught all the coolant that came out in buckets, then when I started hoisting the motor more coolant still poured onto the ground. I learned that no matter what I'm still going to make a mess.
 

P49Y-CY

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I do not have a lift and can drop a motor from these cars in about a half day, with just cherry picker and a fourwheel jack for the motor. If I had a lift it could be done in 1hr if it was timed.

Nice, so do you just strap the radiator support to the cherry picker, and do you have the rear wheels up on blocks at all? and is there no interference from the legs of the cherry picker? Do you remove the front bumper?

i do not have a lift but I'd like to remove it from the bottom in my garage.
 

cj428mach

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Nice, so do you just strap the radiator support to the cherry picker, and do you have the rear wheels up on blocks at all? and is there no interference from the legs of the cherry picker? Do you remove the front bumper?

i do not have a lift but I'd like to remove it from the bottom in my garage.

You might check out Malcolm's thread as it deals with some of the questions you have. Unfortunately for me he broke the AC and Power Steering system open so he can't help on my questions.
https://www.svtperformance.com/threads/malcolms-teksid-cobra-rebuild-thread.1056483/
 

bigja01cobra

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Nice, so do you just strap the radiator support to the cherry picker, and do you have the rear wheels up on blocks at all? and is there no interference from the legs of the cherry picker? Do you remove the front bumper?

i do not have a lift but I'd like to remove it from the bottom in my garage.

  1. Using normal jack and 4x4 jack stands from HF I lift it as high as my atv lift will reach the k-member
  2. Using the ATV jack on k-member & normal jack for trans I unbolt everything and lower the atv jack and trans enough to ensure everything is disconnected
  3. Remove front bumper and center grill header and strap around front rebar(impact bar) and using cherry picker I lift the car as high as possible then set back on the 4x4 jacks. (the cherry picker legs fit perfectly around the atv lift, you have to leave the atv lift up enough to get the legs in though)
  4. Remove cherry picker
  5. Lower atv jack
  6. roll motor out
Install is reverse. The ATV lift is what makes it possible.
 

Black02GT

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When I pulled mine out the top last time I left the power steering system connected and in the car and the AC compressor connected and still in the car. When you take the motor out the bottom those will be in the way so they must be dealt with. I've heard of people flipping the AC compressor up where the cold air intake goes but wanted some actual input on it, as well as the power steering system.

When I installed my headers I was warned by a guy that it makes pulling the motor off the Kmember difficult as the collectors like to catch the Kmember, so its just another reason to go out the bottom I guess, lol.

Just to confirm your thoughts, just put mine in the top with ARH 1 7/8" LTs. Absolute nightmare, load balancer all the way maxed out still hit the k-member or FW. Ended up dropping the K, lower the engine, bolting it to the engine the pulling the whole thing back up and bolting back in. NEVER AGAIN!
 

NateDogg

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Out the bottom is the way to go. I've done it twice with out a lift.. With a lift it would be a couple hour job.

As mentioned above, you can flip your A/C compressor and zip tie it off to the side. Same with the PS stuff. and use the RAD support for the rack.. Plenty of room to drop it down with those out of the way.

I know you are using a lift but here I my process in case anyone searches this in the future.

On the floor, I jack the car up as high as possible, putting all 4 corners on stands.

I use on of those harbor freight engine supports to hold everything in place while I'm dropping the k member and tying stuff out of the way.

Once that stuff is out of the way, I use a cherry picker to drop the motor/trans down on to furniture dolly and some wood blocks.

Put the cherry picker on to the bumper support to lift the car up high enough for the motor to slide out the passenger side. I have some picture I'll upload later for future reference.
 

4sdvenom

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I didn’t read all the replies but I always drop it out the bottom and have done so 5-6 times. Unbolt the a/c compressor from the motor and pull off to the side and zip tie it securely out of the way. No need to evacuate it. Same thing with power steering pump, unbolt and securely zip tie it off to the side out of the way. Same for the steering rack. Unbolt and pull it forward and zip tie it securely to the radiator core support. I do the same thing with the brake calipers too. Have never opened any of those systems. I pull the a arms and front shocks and drop the motor with the K member onto a short 4 wheel cart with the trans attached (another cart under it). Roll it all out as one and separate in and area where you have more room to work. Once you have the car up on jack stands I use an engine hoist to support and lower the engine and a floor jack under the transmission. Take it slow and you can do it by yourself if you have to. I have every time I’ve done it. As you lower keep checking to make sure the motor doesn’t hang up on anything in the engine compartment. Obviously there are a lot of other small items you have to unplug and disconnect before you can drop it but hopefully that helps some!

Ken
 

4sdvenom

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Ha!
Just read the reply above mine after posting and mine pretty much mirrors his lol.

Could have saved some typing if I had read lol
Oh well.

Good luck OP
 

01yellercobra

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Sweet you just made my day now I only have to deal with coolant getting everywhere lol. Last time I blew compressed air through my hoses and caught all the coolant that came out in buckets, then when I started hoisting the motor more coolant still poured onto the ground. I learned that no matter what I'm still going to make a mess.
Coolant.....the gift that keeps on giving.
 

NateDogg

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Here are some of the pictures I have of the first time I did it


Some of these are of it coming out, and others going back in but the same process.
eb00517021a85919f0cb223b206f773b.jpg
a3ca32801115777460b60dfe7b3687b1.jpg
f5bc83906e0c4e95849729501390f242.jpg
f73717b7948f564d82d1d932e335ecbd.jpg
36dff1fcc36d3794d4183c1df67a1f7e.jpg
ee70fd45ae1ea74220d1e287f71c68f2.jpg
d7cf6d27c27b9ee9fab8a1b8376d00f3.jpg


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94slowbra1

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this thread has given me some confidence. i want to add studs and maybe cams. i refuse to try and do it while the engine is in the car. i have all the tools mentioned in this thread so i think im going to give it a go. ive pulled many engines out of various cars, just never from the bottom.
thanks for the tips fellas!
 

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