A quick summary of engine/trans removal from 4x4 anyone?

Hi again,

After the "tree tragedy", I picked up a wrecked 4x4, smashed in right front inner, outer, fender and chassis. If I remove and re-install the engine myself, I'll save a lot of bucks at the body shop.

Soooo....this Sat morning, I need to remove the engine (and trans?) out of the 4x4 for bodywork repair of the inner fender, frame etc.

Can someone run down the procedure? I'm ok with the ancillaries, but need guidance on the engine/trans, e.g do I need to remove the axles? etc.

Do I need any special tools for removing the rear driveshaft?
This will be at the body shop, so I have full access to most air tools, winch etc...

regards

nikos

Hi Zucherro.
I have recently done this (twice in the same week!) so I have a little knowledge and experience.

You've already said you're ok with the ancillaries so I'll assume you can get as far as just needing to undo the engine mounts and hoist it out. None of the following requires special tools.

You DO need to remove both front drive shafts and disconnect the propshaft at the rear of the gearbox, as well as the gear linkages and 4x4 selector linkage. Removing the drive shafts involves partly dismantling the front suspension on both sides so you have enough room to swing the hubs out and off the splined drive at the hub end. The diff end of each shaft is only held in by fact that the shafts can't go anywhere when everything is assembled but you'll need to undo the gaiter bolts to completely withdraw them. There are three on each gaiter securing ring and are fairly easy to remove. Lots of oil will spill out at this point. The gear linkages and 4x4 selector lever can all be easily popped off at the gearbox underneath as they are just push on connectors. You'll need a flat screwdriver to lever them off and a set of grips to pop them back on when you need to.

Now the engine and gearbox should only be held in with it's three mounts. The forward two are easy to access and dismantle. The rear one, which is located right at the back of the transfer box extension for the 4x4 mode is quite difficult to undo. There is a long bolt running right throught it from top to bottom. This clamps a curled section of metal plate (obvious what I mean when you lie under the car and have a look). The best way to tackle this is to get a spanner on the top of the bolt and loosen the nut at the bottom. This will release the plate but as it's curled around the bolt it still holds the gearbox up. When you have suspended the engine and removed the other two mounts all you need to do is move the whole assembly back a little to detach the curled plate from the mounting bolt. Lifting the whole assembly out of the bay is tricky to as you have to tilt it gearbox end down while you lift. More oil will spill out at this point too. Have fun!

Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Rick

Another option is dropping it all & pulling it underneith the car if you want that method just ask.

You beat me to it again !
So much easier to my way of thinking.

Dropping it onto something with wheels or a draggable thing (canvas, piece of carpet... ) does seem to be so much easier than trying to lift it out.

It depends on what equipment and facilities you have available and personal preference which way you do it. I did both engine removals with a hoist and just pushed the car back out of the way and lowered them onto the floor. To put the engine back in I found it easier to lift the front of the car and place the engine underneath and lower the car onto it. More involved though because I had to do two lifting operations. You could also split the engine and gearbox before you remove them to make getting the engine out easier. No doubt other people have approached it in slightly different ways.

Dropping it down you don't need any specialist tools although I found a step ladder & rubber mats most usefull (oh! er!) Just need to lift the car high enough on axle stands for both dropping & lifting.

Thanx for all the help all,

I will pull the engine from the top, as the front of the car is already dissassembled.
Looking at the axles, it seems that I have to undo the ball joints and tie-rod ends to pull out the axles...

thanx again,

nikos

Hi all,

Been a while.....
I'm finishing up on my 4x4 resurrection and I need a pic of the cam side engine mount as I think I've might have the metal bracket that bolts to the frame flipped. This is for a ~2000, 4x4, 1108 LHD vehicle....Has the cast/forged aluminum bracket that bolts to engine and then to the metal bracket and rubber that bolts to the frame...

Would appreciate it and I'll try to post some pics of the car...

thanx,

nikos

Hope this helps.......

Thanx for the response Alan,

Sure enough I had the pressed steel bracket that bolts to the frame flipped. I corrected that now everything seems kosher...

thanx again

nikos

Good luck