hey i have an 84 with of coures a duke. whats the easyest way to remove the motor. drop the cradel or out the top. keep in mind i have a hoist and cherry picker. this will ne no backyard opperation (altough ther is noting wrong with that). what do ya think

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Black 84 2M4

Dropping from the bottom I've found to be the best and I've tried it both ways. Well I pulled it from the top only once. That was enough.

Phil

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87 FIERO GT 2.8 5spd

GM auto tech for 27 years. Specializing in electrical and computer problems. Now on workers comp. and it looks like I will be unable to return to work as a tech.

Four bolts and the cradle's down... It works really nicely as the whole tranny, engine, exhaust, everything comes out together. That's how mine sits right now is on the seperated cradle. Of course, I've also done beetle/ vw transporter engines the same way. Going from the bottom can be done with one person, although a friend is a lot nicer.

Andy

Got to drop it, so much easier and safer!!!!

Step by step swap:
1. Pull the Fiero in the garage
2. Drain the oil from the motor, while the motor is still warm
3. Disconnected the battery and removed it
4. Disconnected the ground cable near the dipstick
5. Gave the motor time to cool
6. Drain the water from the cooling system
7. Disconnected the wires from the ECM and pushed them through the firewall
8. Disconnected the wires from the wiring harness near the battery tray
9. Removed the louvers
10 .Mark the position of the compartment lid
11. Removed the trunk/hatch lid
12. Removed the air filter system
***DO NOT REMOVE THE TORSION ROD RETAINING BOLTS
13. Remove the torsion strut bolt
14. Disconnected the throttle cable from the throttle body
15. Disconnected the cruise control cable from the throttle linkage
16. Labeled all hoses just incase they could be used in the same location
17. Removed all vacuum hoses
18. Disconnected the fuel line fittings from the fuel rail
19. Removed the clutch slave cylinder and shield
20. Removed the shift cables, the back up light switch, and the speedo sensor connection
21. Removed the lower radiator hose and the heater hose from the water pump
22. Removed the A/C lines from the compressor and the A/C wiring harness
23. Removed the lower engine strut front bolt
24. Raised the Fiero up approx. 28" off the ground
25. Removed the rear tires
26. Disconnected the parking brake cables
27. Removed the brake calipers and hung them with clothes wire
28. Removed the suspension struts
29. Removed the nuts from the front engine cradle
*** DO NOT REMOVE THE BOLT YET, THE MOTOR WILL FALL
30. Put a transmission jack under the motor and the cradle
31. Remove the rear bolts and then all four cradle bolts
32. Lower the motor/transaxle/cradle
***A MOST: mark the cradle and measure the loction of the motor
A. measure from the sides of the cradle to the center of the crankshaft
B. measure the height of the center of the crank to the cradle
C. measure from the corner of the cradle to the center of the crank on both sides
33. Disconnect the rear of the motor from the transaxle bellhousing
***LEAVE THE TRANSAXLE MOUNTED AT THIS TIME
34. Remove the motor from the cradle
35. Drain the transaxle
36. Coat the engine cradle and transaxle with "Gunk or Hog wash" and let soak
37. Use a brush and remove all gease, oil, dirt, and other grime
38. Wire wheel the engine cradle and sand it down
The motor removal is done!
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Bobby from NW Indiana
86 Fiero GT, Looking to ad a 93 Northstar soon
thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net

[This message has been edited by GSXRBOBBY (edited 02-23-2004).]

Having a hoist makes it easy if you have a HEAVY DUTY roll cart. Loosen everything and set the rear of the car on the cart. Pull the cradle bolts and lift the car, everything is now in the open.

Depends on the condition of the 4 cradle bolts. If they are rusted in the sleeves or the rear nuts break off in the frame then dropping the cradle takes longer. I can take the Duke out the top of my 85 coupe in about 1.5 hours with no help. The 1st time took 4 hours, but I didn''t have air tools to work with then and was double checking everything I did.

Good luck
Dave