Posted by James on June 30, 1999 at 06:56:02:
In Reply to: Re: Engine Removal leave the tranny attached! posted by Frank Haas on June 29, 1999 at 22:53:06:
: : : : I am getting all ready to pull out the engine in my 1981 528i and replace it with an engine with a bit more "zip". In looking through the Haynes manual, they state you should remove the transmission first. Having taken out the tranny a while back to replace the clutch, this is not a job I look forward to.
: : : : Can anyone tell me if removing the engine and tranny as one unit is possible and what additional work I would have to do to accomplish this mission. I really, really, don't want to pull the tranny separately.
: : : : Thanks in advance for all you help.
: : : : Lee Bailey
: : : As Bill points out, it is POSSIBLE to remove the engine/tranny as one piece, but in my opinion the added difficulty is FAR greater than the effort of removing the tranny first. You're going to have to remove the exhaust, driveshaft, and shift linkage in any event, so the only thing left are the tranny mounting bolts (yes, there is a difficult one). Good luck!
: : I must disagree. I just re-installed my E12 M535i engine complete with Tranny
: : and it was a breeze. I too read the Haynes manual and wondered if it would work...
: : A thought, the top gearbox bolts are real difficult to get done up tight if this isn't done i) with engine/tranny out ii) with the cyl. head off.
: I'd have to agree w/James on this. I've installed a engine/tranny assembly into my E12 and had it hooked up
: ready to run in about 3 hours. The trick is using a good tilt engine hoist attached to a decent engine hoist.It
: helps to have the car on jack stands and loosten the front subframe and drop it down about an inch.
: This is way easier than trying to install the tranny when the engine in the car. The reason I discovered this method is that
: when removing the engine & tranny. I tried to do the Haynes method of remove tranny first but couldn't get the upper transmission
: bolts out (very poor clearance). After 1-2 days of no luck I decided to pull them attached to each other.
: BTW: It is no harder to pull the six engine/tranny assembly out of an E12 than it is to get a four banger out of a 2002 -- it's just a little different technique!
: Regards,
: Frank
FYI I too used a tilk engine hoist and had the front of the car on jack stands. However I didn't need to loosen the front subframe.