<![CDATA[e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison]]>Hi all,

Anyone in Madison have experience and a hoist to remove an m20 engine?  I'm in the middle of a 5 speed swap.  I was down to one of the last bolts on the transmission, the hard top one, and it stripped.  F&^K of course....  Tried extraction sockets and it just broke more teeth off the bolt.  Trying to JB weld a socket on it tonight but I highly doubt that'll work.  Only option now is to pull the engine to cut the bolt out.  

Is there anyone in Madison with an engine hoist that'd be willing to lend/help for cash, beer, anything ?! 😄  Day or night I'd make time.  I've pretty much disconnected everything already.  Just need to do the various hoses and wires, etc, which I'd try to do all ahead of time.  Never removed an engine but doesn't seem terribly hard.  Would love a second set of eyes that's done it before.  Thanks much.

Andrew

]]>https://wibimmers.com/topic/4531/e30-m20-engine-removal-help-needed-madisonRSS for NodeWed, 16 Sep 2026 05:49:06 GMTTue, 27 Sep 2016 00:24:18 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Thu, 29 Sep 2016 00:03:44 GMT]]>yeah thats much better than pulling the motor!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72318https://wibimmers.com/post/72318Thu, 29 Sep 2016 00:03:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Wed, 28 Sep 2016 21:03:03 GMT]]>sweet! Glad you were able to get it out.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72314https://wibimmers.com/post/72314Wed, 28 Sep 2016 21:03:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Wed, 28 Sep 2016 12:51:08 GMT]]>Well folks, that's a transmission out!!!!  I definitely think it was pinched being the last bolt.  Put a few others in and tightened down and then put the jack under and lifted a half inch to take the pressure off.  Came off no problem then.  Phew, what a relief.  I'll let you all know when the swap is done an hopefully drive able!  Thanks again for all the offers for help, especially Chris.    

trans.jpg

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72292https://wibimmers.com/post/72292Wed, 28 Sep 2016 12:51:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:59:46 GMT]]>

GunMetalGrey said:

I tend to be good at forgetting about the slave cylinder hydraulic line. 
Though you probably already  have that taken care of it you were planning on just pulling the trans

i think he has an auto, hence 5-speed swap, but i could be wrong.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72282https://wibimmers.com/post/72282Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:59:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:03:00 GMT]]>thanks all for the tips, feel free to keep them coming!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72278https://wibimmers.com/post/72278Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:03:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 19:54:32 GMT]]>I tend to be good at forgetting about the slave cylinder hydraulic line. 
Though you probably already  have that taken care of it you were planning on just pulling the trans

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72275https://wibimmers.com/post/72275Tue, 27 Sep 2016 19:54:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 18:20:10 GMT]]>

KaiserRolls said:

Throttle cable/cruise if equipped

knew i forgot something!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72269https://wibimmers.com/post/72269Tue, 27 Sep 2016 18:20:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 16:31:39 GMT]]>A load leveler helps tremendously so you can angle the engine as you pull it out. Chris possibly has one already attached to his hoist if you go that route. Don't quote me on that tho. I cant even count any more how many times I have pulled or installed an m20 engine by now.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72262https://wibimmers.com/post/72262Tue, 27 Sep 2016 16:31:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 16:21:38 GMT]]>Use the hoist to test the tensile strength of anything you may have forgotten to disconnect

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72261https://wibimmers.com/post/72261Tue, 27 Sep 2016 16:21:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 16:19:17 GMT]]>Throttle cable/cruise if equipped

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72260https://wibimmers.com/post/72260Tue, 27 Sep 2016 16:19:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 15:05:20 GMT]]>removing any engine from an e30 isn't science. just disconnect everything to the best of your ability, start lifting the engine slowly, and if something is still holding it in place, disconnect that too! something is always forgotten at first.

quick list, and someone please add anything I missed

this is not a step by step, this is assuming you do all the appropriate things like drain coolant, depressurize fuel lines, disconnect the battery, etc etc before disconnecting things

disconnect trans at guibo

remove trans shifter cable, trans wire harness

remove trans crossmember from car & trans (support with jack or jackstand)

disconnect exhaust at downpipes

disconnect radiator hoses

disconnect heater hoses at back of engine

disconnect engine wire harness

disconnect power steering lines at pump

disconnect ac lines at ? can't remember best place

remove airbox/afm

disconnect fuel lines where they go from rubber to hardline (near firewall?)

disconnect throttle/cruise cables (thanks german baked goods)

pull radiator and remove hood.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72257https://wibimmers.com/post/72257Tue, 27 Sep 2016 15:05:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 14:23:15 GMT]]>Thanks all.  I did buy a set of extractor sockets.  Ripped the teeth right off the bolt.  That f-er is really on there.  

YoungCr - My brother has a truck that I could come pick it up.  I'm just outside Verona so pretty close to you.  Would love to take you up on your offer to borrow it.  Would you need it back anytime soon?  Not sure if I'll be able to get it all done this weekend or not since I've never done it before.  Shoot me a PM if that works.

If anyone else is willing to coach me through it I certainly wouldn't turn you down 😄

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72256https://wibimmers.com/post/72256Tue, 27 Sep 2016 14:23:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 13:27:42 GMT]]>Had the same thing happen to me with an engine mount bolt. Extractors worked for me

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72253https://wibimmers.com/post/72253Tue, 27 Sep 2016 13:27:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 13:27:09 GMT]]>What part of Madison are you in? If you are close enough to the east side of Madison I can probably throw my hoist in the truck and drive out from Hartland to give you a hand. 

Or you could try the sockets mentioned above first. I have seen them work magic.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72252https://wibimmers.com/post/72252Tue, 27 Sep 2016 13:27:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 03:23:18 GMT]]>I have a hoist you could borrow down in Belleville, unfortunately I won't have time this week to help though.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72249https://wibimmers.com/post/72249Tue, 27 Sep 2016 03:23:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 02:42:29 GMT]]>Snap's right.

Hindsight, something I learned early on is that removing a trans with an engine is infinitely easier than doing the engine alone.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72248https://wibimmers.com/post/72248Tue, 27 Sep 2016 02:42:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 01:58:55 GMT]]>I had this same scenario. Pull the engine and trans, and dont cut the bolt off, use a damaged bolt extractor.

381fe9ab30da15b9ac5436d96bdca6e4.jpg

I cant physically help you but I can walk you through the order of operations and what needs to be disconnected

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72247https://wibimmers.com/post/72247Tue, 27 Sep 2016 01:58:55 GMT