[Angry]

Okay, I know its possible to drop the motor and trans out of the bottom of a civic/crx with the axles out.

But can it be done with the axles still attached to the hubs?
Its getting really cold here and I want to get this done as quick as possible...and I dont have a cherry picker.

And if you need to know its a stock a6 out of a 90-91 si.

 

[dohcrxl]

No it can't be done, there's not enough give to allow you to pull the inner joints out of the tranny without the outers being free of the hub. Maybe if you removed just one axle, followed by removing all motor mounts then pushed/shifted the entire engine/tranny to one side then pry the inner joint of the other axle out of the tranny that MIGHT work. Even then, it's alot of monkeying around. Top it off, you'd have one hell of a time with reinstallation. Better to just remove both axles.

Tip for dropping out the bottom: Remove the entire front cross member with the radius rods still attached to the cross member. Of course remove the 17mm's that hold the rods to the lower control arm. You will be glad you did this.

 

[Angry]

Hmm, knew about the crossmember needing to be removed, but not the rods....Damn. Im going to be needing alot more tools.

Couldnt I just remove the whole front suspension with the axles in the hubs? Never tried that....

The motor wont be going back in this car, its totaled. It will eventualy make it into my 89 si, but not for awhile.

 

[Krix]

Im not 100% on this.

When I change axles out, I take the bolts out of the LCA at the knuckle and the body. With the crossmembe bar unbolted and the stabalizer bushings (?) removed you can swing the lca out towards you. You may be able to do it that way, but if you go that far you might as well take the axle out :?

 

[dohcrxl]

Hmm, knew about the crossmember needing to be removed, but not the rods....

Well, it's the radius rods that actually get in the way of the engine/tranny dropping down. The reason why I say remove the cross member with the rods still attached to it is because it is easier to remove the 17mm bolts that hold the rods to the LCAs than it is to remove the 17mm nuts that hold the rods to the cross member. Those nuts are often rusted tight and will take you forever to remove even if you could get them to budge. Not only that, the nuts are at a horrible angle to get to. A shallow socket wont work but a deep means you can't get a ratchet directly on it. A half inch extension is too thick and wont allow engagement so alas you need a long 3/8 extension on a 17mm thin wall deep socket. It's a pain trust me, just remove the long 17mm bolts that hold the cross member to the frame then undo the 17mm bolts (2 each per radius rod)

Couldnt I just remove the whole front suspension with the axles in the hubs? Never tried that....

lemme think about that one... ... ... uhhh put it this way - by the time you get done removing everything needed to allow that, it'd be 2-3 times the work of just doing it the tried and true way. (what I wrote to begin with)

 

[ComposiMo]

I've timed myself in the past, and with air tools, starting wiht the car in the air and the wheels off, i can have an axle out of the car in less than 1 minute (if the balljoints play along ). With hand tools, that number only jumps to about 3.5 minutes, as long as the axle cooperates when being 'popped' from the tranny and of course the balljoints play along there as well... but yea, axles are easy, and not very time consuming... no use to try to pull the motor out with them attached.

Now... could the suspension and everything be dropped at one time? Yes, but now you have to disconnect 4 bolts on top of the suspension assembly, you STILL have to pop a balljoint on the steering, and you have to undo one extra bolt on the LCA... its just not worth it. WAY too mcuh time needed for this one to make sense.

You shouldn't need any extra tools to get the radius rods off by the way... just pull the axles first, then unbolt the radius rods from the LCA, and then unbolt the 4 bolts holding it in and the motor mount bolt, and voila... all done with a single 17mm socket, which you'll have to everything else like the motor mount bolts as well.

So yea... just pull the axles, unbolt the crossmember like dohcrxl said, and drop the motor out the bottom and have a happy day 8)

 

['9445]

Definitely go for removing the radius rods from the lca rather than at the crossmember ... the nuts at the crossmember end are self-locking (i.e. really hard to turn on the rusty threads) and rather harder to get at. And I'd take off axle nuts any day rather than having to mess with ball joints. All you need to do is make sure the nut is unstaked (bent out from the slot in the end of the axle) and find your 32mm socket. If you have a reasonably long bar you won't need air tools for this. Just 1/2" drive flex handle has generally been enough for me.

 

[RamaCrx]

No it can't be done, there's not enough give to allow you to pull the inner joints out of the tranny without the outers being free of the hub. Maybe if you removed just one axle, followed by removing all motor mounts then pushed/shifted the entire engine/tranny to one side then pry the inner joint of the other axle out of the tranny that MIGHT work. Even then, it's alot of monkeying around. Top it off, you'd have one hell of a time with reinstallation. Better to just remove both axles.

Just tried to do it in a civic-no go. Not enough room without taking out the axles.
Many parts stores around here will rent them.

 

[bobski]

Dropping the suspension, motor and crossmembers seems doable to me. I'm not sure how safe it would be... but.
Unplug all the usual electrical and coolant lines, unbolt the steering column flex joint in the interior, disconnect the shift linkage and exhaust. Remove the front and rear crossmember-to-frame bolts and set the car back on it's front wheels. Remove the driver's and passenger's side engine mounts. Remove the shock hat and A-arm nuts.
I think you should be able to lift the car off the front suspension, motor ect. at this point. If it works, be sure to take a pic.

 

[dohcrxl]

I've timed myself in the past, and with air tools, starting wiht the car in the air and the wheels off, i can have an axle out of the car in less than 1 minute (if the balljoints play along )

Then surely you can stomp my measly record for a motor/tranny removal of 55 minutes (axles were missing but everything else still intact, in driveway, with air tools, cherry picker, and by myself)

 

[ComposiMo]

Then surely you can stomp my measly record for a motor/tranny removal of 55 minutes (axles were missing but everything else still intact, in driveway, with air tools, cherry picker, and by myself)

Dunno... never really timed myself to try to do it fast like that... maybe i'll time myself when Jfro's car comes down for its swap

 

[Baker]

It might be easier for you to hunt down and engine crane?
You don't know anyone's that you could borrow or does anyone rent them?

 

[jfrolang]

Then surely you can stomp my measly record for a motor/tranny removal of 55 minutes (axles were missing but everything else still intact, in driveway, with air tools, cherry picker, and by myself)

Dunno... never really timed myself to try to do it fast like that... maybe i'll time myself when Jfro's car comes down for its swap

Record setting swap! Woot!

 

[Angry]

...? I thought I posted a reply about my bad luck with axle nuts....?
Anyway, Ive managed to break queit a few breaker bars, and strip one axle nut. Well with a friends help lol....

I may get to do this on monday or start early tommrow before i goto work if its warm, its started snowing here and its freaking 12-18f outside...and turns out my thermastat is stuck partitally open in my 89si! :evil: I dont have that "run me of the car" heat anymore...and it cools down when I start going down the road lol.

 

[austincrx]

i've taken my engine out about 5 times, ahah, long story, don't ask. if you unbolt the front cross member, it's a heck of alot easier!!!!!!!, but i always take the axles out, I do it at my family shop.

 

[Charles]

I feel so inferior. I have never pulled a motor.

 

[Angry]

Well I didnt get around to getting the motor out, Cause i wrecked my 89 si the same day i was gonna take it out...

But that might change soon...