YACT: Unibodies..

[Toastedlightly]

Anybody ever try to remove the engine and transaxle from a unibody? How did you go about doing it? I am curious as I gots me a bad engine in a Grand Prix (98) that I am loookin to fix. Any experiances?

 

[jlee]

Remove hood and borrow an engine lift?

 

[deadlyapp]

Lol.

arent most modern cars unibodies now?

 

[SuperSix]

You should be able to drop the engine cradle.

Jack the car up very high, support it with jackstands, and look underneath. There's a cradle that holds the engine/transmission assembly in.

Get a book, read it, make sure you remove what you need to, it's not too hard with the right knowedge and tools.

I assume it's a 3800, what makes you think the motor's toast?

 

[Toastedlightly]

Originally posted by: SuperSix
You should be able to drop the engine cradle.

Jack the car up very high, support it with jackstands, and look underneath. There's a cradle that holds the engine/transmission assembly in.

Get a book, read it, make sure you remove what you need to, it's not too hard with the right knowedge and tools.

I assume it's a 3800, what makes you think the motor's toast?

Yea, I am gettin the haynes/chiltons (not sure which) for it from B&N. Its a 3.1 and the oil pump went out on the engine (shes siezed). I am most likely going ot get a junkyard engie and rebuild but the car is still in good shape so I am saving it.

 

[Toastedlightly]

Originally posted by: CadetLee
Remove hood and borrow an engine lift?

I was wondering if there is antyhing special about it. I know you can do that in a RWD car (2 engine mounts + driveshaft + tranny mount = engine out) but not sure about it on a FWD Prix.

 

[deadlyapp]

you can do it on all, you'll just have to pull the axles, which may be a little more difficult

 

[Ronstang]

You can usually take the engine out of a FWD drive in one of two ways. You can unbolt the engine from the transmission (if possible in the car...not all are the same) and pull it out the top in a conventional manner. You can also drop it out the bottom by taking the entire subframe out including the transmission and part of the suspension. If I don't have a cherry picker I take it out the bottom but it is much easier to take it out the top leaving the suspension and transmission alone, once again if it is possible to do it this way on your make of car. Each car is differetnt though so I suggest some serious research on your part because the fact that you had to ask this question implies your mechanical skills are those of a neophyte.

 

[Toastedlightly]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
You can usually take the engine out of a FWD drive in one of two ways. You can unbolt the engine from the transmission (if possible in the car...not all are the same) and pull it out the top in a conventional manner. You can also drop it out the bottom by taking the entire subframe out including the transmission and part of the suspension. If I don't have a cherry picker I take it out the bottom but it is much easier to take it out the top leaving the suspension and transmission alone, once again if it is possible to do it this way on your make of car. Each car is differetnt though so I suggest some serious research on your part because the fact that you had to ask this question implies your mechanical skills are those of a neophyte.

I am actually just looking to see what I am getting into. I know my way around cars fairly well, can do almost any job on them. (so far done suspension work, replaced intake manifold, a camshaft, done body work, electrical). I've just done this work on older vehicles and was wondering what sort of effort it would take (specifics) on the Grand Prix. Basically this is the start of my research.

EDIT: Cut me some slack too I'm only 18 (still in highschool) and looking to learn.