1996 Lumina Engine Removal

[tulsaokjoel]

I am wondering if you can pull the motor out the top on a 1996 3.1 v6 Lumina, or if it has to be dropped below the car?

Thanks,
Joel

[bszopi]

You can pull it out of the top. I find it alot easier to do it that way, especially if you don't have access to a lift.

[tulsaokjoel]

That's what I was hoping. Thank you very much. Is it easier to bring the tranny with it, or leave the tranny in the car? Will the engine come out with the heads and valve covers on, or do they need to be removed first?

Thanks.

[bszopi]

Keep the tranny in the car. As far as the engine goes, the only thing I would say to take off would be the plenum so you can get underneath it to unplug harnesses and undo the fuel lines. Here is what my engine looked like right as I was getting ready to put it back in...

[tulsaokjoel]

Can I do this without disconnecting the AC compressor and losing all my freon?

[bszopi]

Yep... all you have to do is just undo the compressor from the engine mount and set it off to the side (on the frame rail), like this:

[tulsaokjoel]

What about the hood? Remove it?

Here's the deal. A friend of mine has an extremely nice 96 Lumina. He blew head gaskets in it last week. He's going to get rid of it as is. Dealership offered him $600 for it. He is willing to sell to me for the same price. I am trying to determine if I can fix it myself. Pulling the engine from the top is doable. I don't know if I can do the whole "lift the car" off the engine thing. Since I already have another car, I've got the time to tear into it and determine if it can be fixed or if it's better to replace it.

Thanks for your help. I may be calling on you again if I decide to do it.

[Compufreek]

If it's just a head gasket I just did it with the engine in the car and it was fairly easy.

[tulsaokjoel]

A few people have told me that there could be problems with the bearings and such, so I thought I'd pull the engine and check everything out.

[Compufreek]

Ahh yeah I hear yah. I didn't have time so I am hoping for the best. I accually didn't lose my head gasket it was the lower intake manifold gasket that let go on me. Does any one know the real danger of damaging bearings when you get the coolant leak internal? What are the chances of failure. I know that if you bring it to a garage they don't even think about that stuff and just replace the gaskets, or at least that is what I was told by two mechanics.

[bszopi]

I pulled the hood when I did it, but I don't think its necessary. You will have to have the hood out of the way in order to get the engine out though.

[tulsaokjoel]

It probably depends on how long it took to notice the problem and other circumstances. Can I pull the oil pan without pulling the engine. I might be able to determine the condition of the internals before I pull the engine. I've done head gaskets before on an engine that was still in the vehicle. It's hard on the back, but possible.......

[Compufreek]

lol, Yeah but the good thing is that everything is really light, it's all aluminium. The oil pan can be gotten to without pulling the motor.

[tulsaokjoel]

In that case, I may pull the oil pan and possible the front head to check for damage first. If it looks good, I'll just replace both head gaskets and mill the heads.

[Compufreek]

That's what I did. How long did he let it go before he stoped driving? I lost my gasket on my way home one night, then just left the car alone until I could do the top end. I am basically hoping for the best with the bearings but the bottom end on these seem to be pretty strong with people claiming 300K+ on their motors.