1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Just a note of inspiration for any timid DIYs out there : I succeeded
in pulling the engine out of my parts car yesterday, and (suprisingly)
it isnt' all that hard ! For the most part, it's nothing more than a
series of pretty do-able steps : if the individual steps don't
intimidate you, then go for it ! (As needed, of course)
I (almost) didn't need any special tools. The one exception was a
1-ton chain hoist I picked up at a used tool store (going out of
business) for $40. I have a paved patio adjacent to my garage with
exposed joists. I laid a 4x4" crossways to the joists (spanning 4 of
them) and hooked the chain hoist to the 4x4. As a sanity check, I
figured that any one joist could easily support my weight (~200 lbs)
so with the load distributed over four joists, I should be safe. (Of
course you can just rent a hydraulic "cherry picker", but that's
beside the point...) Also, I had toyed with the idea of using one of
those cable "come-alongs" that you see in hardware stores : I would
*NOT* recommend this ! Although the strength ratings look good, they
just don't give the kind of control needed for the job.
After a couple days of disassembly and grime (Man ! I wish those
people had kept their engine clean like that AC/DC song...) the moment
of truth came. I pushed the car onto the patio, hooked some chain to
the motor (lifting bracket on intake manifold and also the A/C
mounting bracket), and lifted ever so cautiously. I paid as much
attention to the joists (see above :-) as to the engine. Apart from
one sudden plink (I forgot the hook-like piece that supports the
exhaust pipe from underneath) everythjing went fine. I got her lifted
high enough to clear the car, pushed the car away and put a $5 kiddie
wading pool underneath. (Actually some time elapsed there, and many
fluids spilled on the patio ....) With the Kiddie pool, I could do
some serious degreasing and collect (most of) the runnoff. You know,
like your supposed to do ....
Anyway, this morning as I peered out the bathroom window and saw that
motor hanging there I almost got a little choked up : it's truly a
sight to behold. I've got half a mind to keep it just hangin' there !
Cheers,
Jeff
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |