help me please

I picked up a side job putting an engine in a 97 grand am gt for a guy. Done numerous engine swaps before but this takes the cake. I can't get the engine off of the dowel pins and even if i could there would be no room for it to come out of the car because the crank pulley is hittin the side of the engine compartment. It is a 2.4 and anyone who has ever had the engine out of one is welcome to chime in here. I'll take any suggestion short of setting this thing on fire.

Hope you either have a lift or alot of patience jacking and blocking. the 2.4 comes out of the bottom of the car. Easiest way to do it is drop everything-- pull the brakes, hang them out of the way, drop the tie rod ends from the struts, detach the abs sensors at the wheels and get the wires out of the way, drop the car back on the ground, support the engine with the appropriate brace across the engine compartment. Disconnect everything at the top: hoses, electrical, fuel, etc. with the motor supported, remove the motor mount on the passenger side of the car. remove the top strut mounts at the body, it is not necessary to disassemble the struts. make sure all of your transmission lines are disoconnected, shifter, speed sensor, etc. raise the car, make sure the engine is stable, you don't want it to come crashing down on you. there shoudl be no tension on the lower engine and transmission mounts. from the bottom of the car, detach the mounts for the suspension where they bolt to the body of the car, detatch your exhaust, and remove the remaining motor mounts. lower the car, remove the engine support, raise the car. use an engine hoist to move the engine/trans away from the car, and remove the trans from the engine. have fun. i did mine with a lift, and i can't imagine what it would have been like without the lift.

Another possibility, slim chance, pull the driver's side strut and suspension mount, drop the transmission, the motor -might- come out the top, if it does its alot less work, but i'm not sure if it will work. good luck.

Welcome to the forum. I've never pulled a 2.4 out of a car (though some guys around here have - they'll be chiming in) but I think I can give you some advice. For getting the engine off the dowels (I assume you mean on the motor mounts) try letting them soak overnight in some liquid-wrench or break-away. You may have to do this 2 days in a row to get them to break loose enough to be pulled out. As far as the crank pulley, couldn't you just remove it? Use a J-tool and a breaker bar and pull it off - it should clear it then. Good luck.

Oh WOW - shit. Sorry about that. I typed my post while skibum was posting. Sorry about that - I hate it when that happens.

Not a problem. And its good to see I'm not the only one thinking along different methods than gm or haynes or chiltons recommends...

You guys beat me to the pull the pulley, well done guys.

Old school, baby.:smokin:

Old school, baby.:smokin:

LMAO! :) That just cracks me up for some reason, Tam. :lol: :rofl: :) You're all like "Old school, baby" all cool and shit. LoL

Some damn good info, Skibum. Good luck with that engine, Oldred.

...:biggrin:...