Quick question.....I have my engine, 2.8L V6, attached to the cradle and sitting on a dolly. i was wanting to remove just the engine and leave the transaxle on the cradle...i have absolutely no experience w/ transmissions but was wondering if i would need to drain all the transmission fluid out b4 seperating it from the engine. i other words, if i seperate the bell housing from the engine to lift it off of the cradle, is all the transmission fluid gonna leak out everywhere or does it stay mostly down in the transmission/pan? i apologize in advance for my lack of knowledge of what most people in the forum probably already know...thanks.

forgot to mention that it is an automatic transmission

also, does anyone know of a post or a web site that shows in detail w/ pics an engine rebuild on a 2.8L V6? Something besides a chilton or haynes manual...thanks

[This message has been edited by labbe001 (edited 03-02-2009).]

You can go ahead and remove the engine from the trans, no fluid will leak. However if you remove the axles from the trans then you will have a mess on your hands I know as I did this myself without even thinking about it. Pulled the axles out and moved them to the other side of the garage, came back to a huge puddle on the floor

Ken~

If it is an automatic, be careful with the torque converter as it is full of oil. It will be ok as long as you don't take it off and lay it down on the floor/table.

Other than that, as meantioned above, you have nothing to worry about removing the engine fram the transaxle as they are both sealed units and do not share fluids between them.

Since you have it on a dolley already might be hard to reach unless there is access. If you pull the bolts between the flex plate and the TC you can just leave the TC in the transmission and will not lose a drop of fluid..
If you do pull the TC fluid will run out until you get it tipped up. Then when putting it back in you have to make sure the notches engage in the transmission pump or you have problems getting the transmission all the way seated on the block. Just makes it a lot easier if you can leave the TC in the transmission.
You have to pull onebolt, turn the engine to the next pull and repeat.

[This message has been edited by Dodgerunner (edited 03-02-2009).]

BEFORE you take them apart, remove the starter, & through the starter hole, remove the torque converter bolts. remove one, turn the engine over. remove the next,& so on. once the converter bolts are out(3), you can just lift the engine out & nothing will leak.