Pulling a Cobra Motor - What part of the job do you LEAST enjoy?

[Martin6107]

This forum is full of threads about pulling Cobra motors. The first one I did was a time consuming learning experience, but not terribly difficult thanks to the internet and a collection of Ford and Chilton's manuals laying around.

This morning I was thinking about my current swap project, reflecting on the work ahead and started thinking about what part of an engine swap I least enjoy - getting those darn bolts between the exhaust manifolds and catalytic converters lose gets me - on every engine removal job. :cryying: It seems that the project gods find new ways to torment me with challenges and there is so little room with a Cobra motor . In the end, I always win ... BUT ... getting those bolts off has become my least favorite part about removing a motor on a Cobra or any other Mustang. Thankfully. that part is done on this project and the rebuilding is under way.

So ... What is YOUR least favorite part about removing a Cobra motor?

 

[97CasperCobra]

Least favorite.....Not knowing where to start!!!!

I'm approaching my Coyote swap and have NEVER pulled a motor before...think it'll be disconnecting all the lines and fittings to the engine then actually the pull of the motor itself.

 

[98BABCobra]

I think my least favorite part is disconnecting/removing all of the miscellaneous things that have to be done before actually pulling the engine (i.e. wiring harness, front accessory drive, exhaust, drive shaft, draining fluids, etc.)

 

[encasedmetal]

removing the starter for sure.

 

[98 N/A 4V]

For my own personal safety reasons I pull the tranny before pulling the motor. But I hate F'ing with the tranny. Tilting it too much and there goes Mercon all out the tailhousing.

-Mark

 

[nestmendoza98]

getting the power steering pump off. I always remove the pulley first then the pump. I never disconnect the lines because it always makes a huge mess so I leave the pump dangling. Ive broken 3 removal tools and 7 pulley installers. lol least favorite part for sure.

 

[Tabres]

Personally, I find removing the engine to be not that difficult. It becomes easier as you learn the little tricks and shortcuts each time you do it. Having done the jobs a few times now myself, if my car weren't forced induction, I bet I could get it done in probably 2 hours give or take.

removing the starter for sure.

Get a tubular k-member and it becomes one of the easiest jobs on the car.

For my own personal safety reasons I pull the tranny before pulling the motor. But I hate F'ing with the tranny. Tilting it too much and there goes Mercon all out the tailhousing.

-Mark

I'd have to agree with with this. The transmission sucks the most. Some of the upper bell-housing bolts are very difficult to see and are a real pain to get to. Couple that with not having a transmission jack and it's just not a good time in general. In regards to losing fluid, I've taken to rubber-banding a latex glove over the tailshaft housing. It keeps a significant amount of the mess off of the garage floor.

 

[laddanator]

For my own personal safety reasons I pull the tranny before pulling the motor. But I hate F'ing with the tranny. Tilting it too much and there goes Mercon all out the tailhousing.

-Mark

Personally, I find removing the engine to be not that difficult. It becomes easier as you learn the little tricks and shortcuts each time you do it. Having done the jobs a few times now myself, if my car weren't forced induction, I bet I could get it done in probably 2 hours give or take.



Get a tubular k-member and it becomes one of the easiest jobs on the car.



I'd have to agree with with this. The transmission sucks the most. Some of the upper bell-housing bolts are very difficult to see and are a real pain to get to. Couple that with not having a transmission jack and it's just not a good time in general. In regards to losing fluid, I've taken to rubber-banding a latex glove over the tailshaft housing. It keeps a significant amount of the mess off of the garage floor.

I had an old drive shaft. I took the end off from the U Joints that goes into the transmission. When I'm ready to pull the tranny, I install that part from the drive shaft made for that end, little electric tape to keep the part from sliding back out on tilt and no transmission fluid mess.