Lifiting an engine out...............(first timer content)

[thisisnotaspoon]

Just weighing up the pro's and cons of different bits of kit. The garrage quoted £300 + parts to fit a new clutch and bearing, and while I can afford that (just), if I can buy £300 worth of toys garrage equipment and do it myself, so much the better.

Crane: car can be parked with the brake on and move the engine arround.

Hoist: cheeper (£40 Vs £160), but car has to be moved arroudn which will be more of a pain I imagine.

Load leveler: Do I need one? Or will a strap to the front and rear of the engine be sufficient if a little more crude? If anything 2 ratchet straps is the more stable option, just set them up, attacht he hoist and lift, not havign to worry about tweaking it as it will be 100%level.

Engine stand: Nececary, or is it safe enough just lowering the engine onto a pallet and working on it at ground level?

The car's a 1500 MG midget, anyone got the foggiest idea what the engine weighs (its all cast iron, 1500cc I4)?

Unless anyone happens to have any/all of that kit in Reading / Wokingham / Bracknell...........

[Incorrigible]

folding engine crane a few axle stands, done

Just get involved man

Or I could rent you workshop space for a day.........

[buggalugs]

I've done a few on the drive, usually rent a crane from the motor factors round the corner. It makes a right din wheeling it down the street Haven't needed a load leveler yet, I normally use a couple of fairly hefty ratchet straps. Just make sure they're not going to crush anything when you take up the weight. If it needs to come out at an angle then put it down again and adjust the straps to suit.

Oh and don't let anything valuable get underneath it Respect the weight!!

A stand makes it easier & neater to work on but I'm sure you can do a clutch without one, in fact you might not be able to do the clutch with the engine on one if the stand needs to bolt to that side.



Good luck

Edited by buggalugs on Tuesday 20th July 20:45

[Otto]

I removed my 1275cc engine from my engine the hard way..... a couple of strong friends and some brute force!
You can also use a couple of 4x4 or 2x4 pieces of wood with some ratchet straps. Straps around the engine and around the 4x4's.... one of you either side of the car with the 2x4's on your shoulders. Bend with your knees and lift! I take no responsibility for injuries incurred

I hired an engine crane for a day when I put it back in though!

[GLLHG]

Daft as it may sound, when a local nursing/retirement home near me closed, I blagged a mobile patient hoist from them for a couple of quid. I've lifted A series engines and also a Rover/ Buick Vee 8 with it ( did replace the straps with some good quality kit though and did get the Pneumatic release valve checked over by a mate in the trade

Edited by GLLHG on Monday 26th July 18:40

[thisisnotaspoon]

Crane on its way (ebay, £95, thats the same as hireing it twice and I can sell it)

ratchet straps on their way

clutch has landed on the doormat

clutch alignment widget on its way

Hopefully engine out on saturday afternoon and back in on sunday intime for a quick run.

(

[Otto]

Good luck, don't rush, make sure you make notes of how all the pipes and wires hook up to the engine for when you put it back in. Taking plenty of photos helps this.

[anonymous-user]

When I took the engine out of my Midget (1978)me and my mate lifted it in and out by hand, rebuilt on a bench, no equipment used, if you strip the engine in the car, manifold, alternator etc, maybe even the head and remove the radiator, the midget engine is managable.