e30 m20 engine removal help needed - Madison

[patsbimmer1]

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.

[YoungCR]

I have a hoist you could borrow down in Belleville, unfortunately I won't have time this week to help though.

[i_love_cars]

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.

[KaiserRolls]

Had the same thing happen to me with an engine mount bolt. Extractors worked for me

[cpandrewschmidt]

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

[straight6pwr]

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.

[KaiserRolls]

Throttle cable/cruise if equipped

[KaiserRolls]

Use the hoist to test the tensile strength of anything you may have forgotten to disconnect

[Bassboy3313]

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.

[straight6pwr]

KaiserRolls said:

Throttle cable/cruise if equipped

knew i forgot something!

[GunMetalGrey]

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

[cpandrewschmidt]

thanks all for the tips, feel free to keep them coming!

[straight6pwr]

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.

[cpandrewschmidt]

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.    

[YoungCR]

sweet! Glad you were able to get it out.

[straight6pwr]

yeah thats much better than pulling the motor!