To drop or to pull the engine????

[nsmall]

Sorry everyone, I ask a lot of questions.   Im a newbie.  This fall I'm pulling the engine and tranny

I'm having my car media blasted and I'm trying to help my painter where I can.

Option A:  I can pay someone like $400 to drop the engine, tranny, k-frame out the bottom.  I guess I would have to build a cart for the front end if I do this as I'm taking the car 250 miles away to have it painted?  Would I also need a cart for the tranny, engine, and k frame?

I want to paint the engine while it's out.  Would I be able to paint the engine while it's hooked up to all of this? Im assuming painting the engine would be a pain?

Option B: my friend can pull the engine and tranny for free in my garage out of the top of the car.  Put the engine on a stand for easier access to paint.  The car will still roll for an easy haul for paint.

The point of all of this is to save my painter time, and for me to do some of the work as he's giving me a more than fair price on what I'm asking him to do.

Thanks a lot.  Really love this site.

[burdar]

The more parts you remove before paint the better IMO.  Body color overspray on parts that shouldn't be painted makes the entire car look bad.  You and your buddy can easily pull the engine out the bottom in your garage.  Just go to Harbor Freight and buy a HD furniture dolly.  That will hold the engine assembly so you can move it around.  Then build some stands to hold the front end for transport to the painters.



You can take the engine/trans off the k-member to clean them up and repaint.  Clean up the K and suspension while it's out.  Make sure to remove everything else from the engine compartment before paint.  Body colored upper shock hardware, blower motor, steering column exc...just look like you took the easy way out. 

[cudabob496]

pulling it out the top seems easier, as long as don't drop it

[Wadmin1021]

Never apologize for asking questions - that's what these smart people are on here for! I can't tell you how many times they've helped me!!!!!


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[FY1Cuda]

My vote's with Burdar. Here's a picture of hoisting the car up after the K-frame was set down on a dolly.    The extension bars also used the bumper bracket holes.  After you take that stuff out, the painter will have a much easier time.  In the second picture you can see the wheels just like Burdar posted.

[rUNCHARGER]

Either one will work, I would probably pull it out the top especially if it's a small block. Hemi's are ugly and  are more worthwhile to do from the bottom.

Sheldon

[DocMel]

Ill give the real recent deal.  Yesterday, I just removed the 440 out of my e body, after years of doing it from the top

  Its not as easy as some would say, but there are some advantages

From the top:

1.  I hate taking off and reinstalling the hood.  That sucks
2.  Reaching all tranny bellhousing bolts
3.  Realigning the tranny with the engine (manual) and rebolting together:  Sucks, tight fit
4.  Most cherry pickers just give enough room to clear the front

Form the bottom:

1.  I have a 2 post lift.  NO WAY I would do it without one
2. You will have to realign the car when done.  Yes, you can scribe the K member mount, but I would still realign
3.  I can see now what a ***** it will be to level the engine /tranny/k member combo when it comes to mounting back on frame.  No matter how well I made the stand for the combo, it will be real ***** to level a 1000 pound combo.  Ill need about one, two other guys to help
4. Headers and starter had to come off first before removing
5.  Detail k member, rebuild front suspension now if needed

But all in all, remove from bottom seems easier, but ONLY if you have a 2-4 post lift

[HP_Cuda]

Without a doubt, removing from the bottom is the only way I would do it now. I have done plenty out the top in years past.

By dropping it out the bottom, you have the ability to:

1) Rebuild the suspension
2) Ability to move the kmember around wherever you need it
3) You can easily remove/replace the motor from the kmember
4) The best part: Once everything is cleaned up you can essentially put everything back together on the kmember for reinstall, including the transmission

Four bolts, torsion bars, and the tranny crossmember is all that is in your way to this simple yet effective method.

[Chryco Psycho]

I only do it from the bottom & I have never used a hoist using jack stands at the front spring eye the weight of the rear of the car counterbalances the front end so you can lift it by yourself with you legs  & just block it while you roll the engine trans & suspension under the car , virtually everything can be assembled on the engine so you just have to plug in the wire harness ,hoses , rad  & reconnect the spindles & brakes

[burdar]

The first time you try it with a cherry picker is nerve wracking but it goes much faster once you get used to it.  On my Dart, the cherry picker's legs got in the way of the K-member making things more difficult.  I recently made an extension with angle iron to get the cherry picker out farther from the car to make it easier.

[CudamanTom]

I've done two 440s from the top. 
With the headers & tranny attached.
Just depends on which option works best for you.
And the hood doesn't have to be removed, just two bolts so it can lean back with a strap.
My brother Dan shown here in both pictures helping.