What do you hate most about engine swaps?

[7d8ss]

I get nervous with the engine hanging off the cherry picker. Trying to move the picker into position over the engine bay with a 400 pound engine swinging around is nerve wracking. Then the push - lower - pull - move to the side - lower - raise just a little, etc. I feel a sense of relief when it nestles onto the clamshells & I get the bolts through the mounts.

 

[SmoknMali]

For me it's torque converter bolts, anyone have a better way than spinning the flexplate with a screwdriver tooth by tooth?

I usually pull some spark plugs then turn by hand. It doesn't matter if you have high or or low compression.

 

[SmoknMali]

This just happened to me this weekend. I had everything ready to fire up my engin. Rolled the BU back stated filling the radiator and come to find out that my intake was leaking water along with one side of my waterpump gasket...I was pissed. I replaced all the gasket again and then attempted again and the carb acting up...what a weekend.

 

[bigtmoney]

I had a leaky water pump gasket on Friday night when I went to start my Monte. Can't blame helpers this time, I answered my phone and was talking to my buddy when I installed the pump.

 

[85GPLef41]

When i position the damn drain pan under the radiator petcock or hose and the coolant goes everywhere but the pan... oh and when you pull both the engine and trans AND trans fluid still pours all over the floor, even though i drained it and used one of those stupid plastic tailshaft plugs that always seem to fall off.. :| There is a whole lot of other thing's i hate when working on both heavy and light equipment... Just did plugs on a 08 f150 what a nightmare! 4 of the 8 broke off in the head!! luckily i thought ahead and picked up the extractor kit and got it done in 5 hours!

 

[Nozer]

For me it's torque converter bolts, anyone have a better way than spinning the flexplate with a screwdriver tooth by tooth?

Yeah just take a long pry bar and run it through a hole on the flywheel, wedging it on the torque conv, when your laying under the car all you have to do is move the pry bar up or down to move the flywheel, worked like a charm for me and ive pulled about 5 motors this past year..

 

[Dennyboy]

when someone thinks they can help....

 

[bishop gp]

Missing or misplaced parts

 

[lilbowtie]

I think I have it figured out - don't pull the hood or radiator, strap the headers back and out it comes. Wiring is on Packard fittings. Just lift the trans enough so engine clears the mounts

 

[Bonnewagon]

FLUIDS! Like 85GP said, you never get it all out and then as you tilt the motor/trans- out it comes all over everything. So now I use an old driveshaft snout in the end of the trans and I bailing wire it on so it stays in place. The only way to completely drain coolant is to open the block drains on each side. Good luck on an old crusty motor, even if you can reach them. I tried using radiator drains instead of plugs but they rust up too then break. Best I can do now is use lots of anti-seize and a long headed plug just in case the new motor ever has to come out.