So i went ahead and bought a parts car, it has a really good tranny and the motor lost a timing belt so i'll rebuild it to have as a race motor!

This weekend i managed to get the tranny pulled, after realizing all the flaws in the Haynes manual... And i started working on the motor.

The motor is basically a long block at this point so theres not much on there to get in the way during removal. I'm trying to take the motor out of the top just because i figured it would be easiest with the motor so striped down. But i can get the motor to come about 2 inches off of the torque tube bell housing, but i just cant get it to pop of (not sure if the drive shaft is a little stuck or if something else is hung up). I can get the motor to spin a bit side to side so i know theres no bolt or pin hanging up.

I've tried making sure the motor and tt are level and that doesn't really help... I'm about ready to pull the head so i can turn the motor over to remove the pressure plate and just leave the clutch and pp on the shaft and pull the motor out without them!

Any idea's of what could be going wrong?

Thanks,
Mike

Hello Mike,

The engine comes out quite easily from the bottom.......if you have a lift handy.

But as most of us do not, here are a few tips for top removal.

Getting the oil pan to clear the crossmember is the big issue, hence bottom out is preferred.

Even for top removal you should undo the struts at the top and unbolt the crossmember, this will give you the needed inches of lower clearence and make things easier.

Remove steering at knuckle joint.

Leave clutch assembly in tack, undo 4 bolts at torque tube.

If trans is removed, slide TT assembly back far as possible.

Remove fan shroud/radiator.

The motor will want to hit the hood latch area, but once the motor is forward enough, you can wiggle motor around it.

Get a buddy to help if you can, but can be done alone, an engine hoist leveler will be helpful also.

Good luck with it.

JB

Everybody I've talked to who has pulled a 944 engine both top and bottom methods says bottom is the way to go.

Last one I pulled was extra easy- Since it was coming out of a wrecked tub, I simply Sawzalled off the nose of the car, and pulled the engine straight out.