I bought a 1993 Lumina Z34 parts car a few weeks ago for the engine. I have a new crate engine that will be going into my '88 GT, but I still needed the intake, injectors, harness, etc. so buying a whole car made sense. Anyway....I was wondering if it will come out the top or if I have to drop the cradle (and/or which way is easiest).
I pulled my parts engine from a 94 Grand Prix out the top. Be VERY careful with the front lifting loop. I pulled min at the boneyard and used a piece of seat belt fed through the loops for the hook to grab. That put too much side pressure on the loop and broke the big aluminum casting on the front of the engine. Be sure to pull straight up on those loops.
------------------ 1986 SE Aero coupe.
3.4 DOHC swap is complete and running, now just have to finish the rest of the car...
All the parts you need can be pulled without removing the engine. You can save yourself a lot of work.
Joe Sokol
I may just go that route. I've debated whether or not it would be worth the effort to have the whole engine for spares, but I may just pull off the intake stuff, harness and heads then call it a day. I don't really need the block and it's seized up anyway....hydro-locked, cylinders full of coolant!
The main reason for pulling the whole engine was so I could keep better track of where things go and how they attach to the engine. I'm not ready to start the swap yet, so it will be easy for me to forget how it all goes together
If you decide to pull the whole engine, I vote for removing the whole cradle. After trying it both ways at the salvage over the years, including several times by myself, I've learned it's much easier to pull the cradle. It also makes it easier to see the engine in its natural habitat, as well as removing the components you want to keep or discard.
My yard charges extra for starters, alternators, etc. if they're still bolted to the block.
[This message has been edited by Quad Raider (edited 11-21-2016).]
Originally posted by mrfiero: I may just go that route. I've debated whether or not it would be worth the effort to have the whole engine for spares, but I may just pull off the intake stuff, harness and heads then call it a day. I don't really need the block and it's seized up anyway....hydro-locked, cylinders full of coolant!
The main reason for pulling the whole engine was so I could keep better track of where things go and how they attach to the engine. I'm not ready to start the swap yet, so it will be easy for me to forget how it all goes together
I have hydro-locked a 3.4 DOHC before, and it bent rods, and rust covered several components. Personally, if it's hydro-locked, I don't see any of the long block parts having any value whatsoever.
I'd still remove the engine though. The rear exhaust manifold and alternator alone will take longer to get off and out than pulling the entire engine, especially if the car is an automatic. They are pure hell. Designed by the devil himself. In hell. As punishment for us humans.
IIRC the crate engines do not come with exhaust studs. If you plan on reusing the donor engine's, you'll want to let them sit overnight after being generously coated with WD40 or a penetrating oil. They're easy to strip the heads off of.
I decided to strip the engine while it was still installed in the car. I pulled the intake stuff, the heads and wiring harness. The engine was full of coolant....I pulled the oil drain plug and got almost 2 gallons of coolant. There is evidence of previous work, so I think someone just put it back together wrong (lots of loose bolts, etc).
Thanks for all the suggestions.....I appreciate it.
