LT1 Removal From Top?
 

Hi guys, so I've put my 96 Z28 away for the winter and now I've just been speculating what I want to do next. So the engine runs great, but it leaks oil like a sieve from just about every seal and has multiple exhaust leaks from the manifolds due to a crack and a few broken bolts. I'd like to pull the engine out of the car and get it on a stand so that I can do a full reseal on it to fix all of the leaks and also so I can work on getting the manifold bolts out and hopefully install some headers.

I know people say different things about this matter but I wanted to know about removing the engine from the top, what your various experiences have been with it. I know people say the preferred method is doing it from the bottom by dropping the whole crossmember, but Id be doing this at home, likely in the driveway with only a jack and jackstands, and I can't see an easy way to drop the crossmember without a lift.

Finding info online is spotty because a lot of the threads are ancient, it seems like 4th Gens aren't nearly as popular as they once were, but I was reading about a lift plate called the TPIS happy hooker that supposedly will bolt to the intake of the LT1 and allow for easy pulling of the engine from the top without removing much besides the front accessories. Only problem is I can't seem to find one of these lift plates anywhere online, it seems like it was discontinued or something. Can the exhaust manifolds be left on when you pull the engine? I know it's a tight fit, but part of the reason I want the engine out is so that I can get the manifold bolts out and avoid breaking any more than the two that are already broken, because it just looks like a nightmare while the engine is in the car. I also worry if I would be able to get the engine back in if I were to put headers on, though I suppose I could put the engine back in first and then install the headers since I won't be struggling with broken bolts going back in hopefully.

Another reason I'd rather just go out the top is because I don't want to have to go through the trouble of bleeding the brakes and everything since i would have to disconnect the brake lines and everything.

Let me know if you guys have any info on this, what you guys have done and everything. I've seen plenty of videos of the cradle being dropped from the bottom, truthfully I haven't completely ruled out that method yet, but it just looks like an awful lot of work for the space and resources that I have. So it would definitely be my last resort. Let me know, thanks.

they are for using on a carburetor manifold. I have one around here somewhere. maybe,,,, to much car stuff....

pulling from bottom you lift the body off the k member. can use engine lift to raise body.

What Craby said. If you pick on my 93 Camaro build thread and scan down to post #11 down you can get an idea what it looks like. Once the K-member/Engine is disconnected the body is lighter than the engine. In my pictures I am using the light Harbor Freight's cheapest/smallest engine lift.

[IMG]https://camaroforums.com/forum/attac...=1697712716868[/IMG]

So just out of curiosity since I've never done one how do you get the engine out from under the car or the car out from over the engine once you get to this point?

If you pick on my 1993 build thread in my signature and go to post #11 and 12 you will see the car sitting on jack stands with the nose up and you will see the engine with the K-member sitting on a wooden dolly along with 2 wheel dolly. The only thing the wheel dollies are doing is allowing me to move the frame in any direction. The wood dolly is carrying 90% of the weight.

If you go to post #14 you will seem me lifting the body off the jack stands after the motor is in place and the next picture is right after the I lowered the car and moved the lift away.

For a stronger guy that knows the process and have the right tool but no lift I would say this is a 8-10 hour job. If I did not have 3 crushed disks in my back and I had a real lift I could do the job in 6-7 hours. This was only my second time doing this and with my back it took way longer. Keep in mind I use to be solo in my garage.

When I did my first one I did a ton of research. Even then there was a big argument on which way was easier. I had always done "out the top" on every other car I have done. I was able to find dozens of build threads. One thing I focused on was guys that had done the process both ways. Every signal one of those guys said they would never go out of the top again. The issue is you have to strip the engine almost to the long block and remove the radiator. After helping a friend remove is exhaust manifold to install headers I remember thinking that just that was worse then removing the motor out of the bottom.

I though about upgrading my cherry picker because I was picking up a car but I did not. I put some jack stands under the axle so the car could pivot around the axle. I notice the cherry picker lifted the car with less effort then it did lifting the engine and trans out of the k-member. One piece of advise I would give to the OP, Make sure you have plenty of room to maneuver the engine on a dolly. That is why I backed the car in the garage. I could pull the engine assembly right into the drive way.