Engine out snag

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by DaveH, Sep 12, 2017.

  1. I'm taking my (type 4) engine out and hit an annoying snag. Leaving the gearbox in place, pulled it back as far as it will go, oil pipe is touching the valance, and the lower studs don't quite clear the gearbox. I don't want to try lowering the back end first as I don't want to break the input shaft or anything.

    What am I doing wrong?

    The daft thing is, I've had it out before and don't remember having this problem. Nothing has changed since then.

    Apologies for not posting anything in ages and coming straight in with a question - I promise I will be helpful when I get this resto started properly. :)
     
  2. Flakey

    Flakey Supporter

    They are a tight fit these type4s, bit of jiggling normally does it or its actually easier if you undo the top gearbox bellhousing to chassis bolts which lets the back of the box down a bit, support it separately with another jack or axle stand.
    Helps with refitting too, the ends of the 2 bolts are tapered so are quite easy to get back in even though you're doing them blind!
     
  3. I have read about undoing the bellhousing bolts, just don't understand how I got it out before. Do you have to lower it enough so that the oil filler goes underneath the valance slightly?
     
  4. Dubs

    Dubs Sponsor supporter extraordinaire

    Have you removed the oil filler pipe?
     
    nicktuft likes this.
  5. Flakey

    Flakey Supporter

    They will come out without removing the oil filler or the bellhousing bolts but either will make the job easier.
    Otherwise just a bit more force and more angle on the engine!
     
  6. No, I didn't remove it last time either.
     
  7. nicktuft

    nicktuft Supporter

    Normally remove as much as possible to make removal easier. Disconnect the battery first.
    Then bumper and tow bar and electrics, exhaust with ancillary tin ware and heat deflector, oil filler tube as the oil should have been previously drained .
    All cables heater accelerator and wiring together with fuel lines disconnected.
    Then support the engine on a dolly with trolley jack underneath, undo all the nuts and engine supports and slide it back off the mounting studs.
    When all is clear lower the engine onto the deck and pull the trolley jack out.
    Now all that is needed is to jack the van up high enough so that the engine can be removed.
    Seems like a faff but it works and like this is a one man job.
    Reinstalling is the reverse procedure.;)
     
  8. You'll probably have sorted this by now, but I found it easiest to drop both engine and box together. Still a one man job.

    The tedious bit is jacking up the body in stages if you don't have a big enough jack.
     
    3901mick likes this.
  9. IMG_2063.JPG

    Well... where does the time go? OK it was a cold winter, and I had other things to do, and blah blah blah.

    Anyway, I finally got round to finishing this job off today, and I wanted to thank everyone for their input. I took the back of the gearbox off the hanger and the rest was easy.

    I even made a handy dolly out of a piece of worktop and some castors.
     
    Flakey likes this.
  10. Hiya Dave. Been a while! Whats up with the motor?
     
  11. Nothing wrong with it, apart from the odd oil leak. I'm doing a proper resto and this is the first step. Been mainly patching things up for the last 15 years, and last full paint job was 20 years ago.
     
    Iain McAvoy, Deefer66 and paradox like this.

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