Engine Removal

[Silver280zx]

Hey, sorry, but I am new to the forum, and I cannot find the search function on this forum. Anyway, so I have a Rhd elan s2 barn find, and I am getting it apart piece by piece, and I need to remove the motor. Do I have to take the body off the frame to get it out? I am pretty sure I have to separate the transmission from the engine before I can get anything out as is. Anyway, some help is much appreciated, thanks guys.

[elancoupe]

The body does not need to be removed. Some remove the engine and trans together, and others just the engine, whichever works best for you. Removing the two together can be a bit tricky with a standard frame, but I have done it that way many times.

[garyeanderson]

Engine removal

http://www.lotuselan.net/cgi-bin/search ... oom_sort=0

THe search box is in the upper right hand corner of the window.

Lots of advice on nearly every topic you can think about with the ELan and plus2

Welcome to land of Lotus Elan!

Gary

[memini55]

Welcome to the site! Search function is at the top right of the page and easy to use.
Second your request to take out the motor, it can be done with gearbox attached or disconnected.
Kind of your choice. If you take both as a unit you need to have a hoist or lift with a tilt bar as the package will need to tilt serverly. Also remember if doing it that way drain all the gearbox oil first as it all will run out the end and make a huge mess.
I always take towels or blankets on the fenders and front nose to protect body work. If you don't want to deal with the oil mess then just sperate the gearbox and leave it in place. I normally put a floor jack on the tranny to lift the front and support it when the motor is removed. You will find many posts on this topic.

Mark

Well I see I was late to the party as normal, thanks guys

[Silver280zx]

Thanks, for some reason the search bar is appearing now. Strange.. Oh well, thanks guys, ya I looked through a few builds, and I seems like most people remove the body. I guess I will give it a shot with the body on first, the sprint headers look like they might cause some problems though.

[memini55]

I pull all the loose items off first and unbolt the header and pull it away from the block as they will normally foul the motor mount arm and get stuck.

If you wish to lift the body for some other work then go that way and you still need to take off all the loose parts
and the carb studs to lift the body.

Have fun!

[billwill]

The procedure for lifting out the engine is detailed in the workshop manual. You will really need a copy of that for many jobs.

The engine has to be tilted sideways at one point to clear the chassis.

If the gearbox is still fastened to the engine the whole lot is almost vertical in the last stage, to clear the front of the car, so you need a hoist with the top pulley about 8 foot above ground to do it that way. I usually do it with gearbox still on the engine, but my hoist is fastened to the concrete roof of my garage. It involves lifting the engine out, then pushing the car out from under it, then lowering it onto a trolly.

[Silver280zx]

The procedure for lifting out the engine is detailed in the workshop manual. You will really need a copy of that for many jobs.

The engine has to be tilted sideways at one point to clear the chassis.

If the gearbox is still fastened to the engine the whole lot is almost vertical in the last stage, to clear the front of the car, so you need a hoist with the top pulley about 8 foot above ground to do it that way. I usually do it with gearbox still on the engine, but my hoist is fastened to the concrete roof of my garage. It involves lifting the engine out, then pushing the car out from under it, then lowering it onto a trolly.

A workshop manual is to come soon, I have been just using a factory lotus parts breakdown for now, since it came with the car. I do have a chain hoist I can put at 8 feet, but I also have a hydrolic hoist. I did however read something about putting straps around the bellhousing and the oil pan to adjust the angle while lifting.

[billwill]

Yes, you need to use straps and I dislike trying to lift the engine by ropes only in the carb inlet tracts. Having seen an engine in a breakers yard some years ago where all four inlet tracts were sheared off, I realise that part is quite thin and (having just bought a brand new head) very expensive.

You can of course take the head off first, before you lift the bottom half of the engine out of the car.

[reb53]

As Bill mentions, if you're planning on lifting the head anyway then doing it before lifting the motor makes access to a lot of bolts way easier.

Only if the head's coming off anyway, leave it alone if that's not the plan.

Cheers
Ralph.

[twincamman]

I had my engine and tranny out three times in a month and swore I would burn the car before I did it again ed

[Quart Meg Miles]

That should improve access, Ed, let us know how you get on.

[Silver280zx]

I got back in the shop and messed around with it today, and extracted all the studs, and removed the steering column, it will not be too bad removing the body. About how much do you think it weighs? I figure 4 people, one on each side, front and back should be able to lift it off.

[reb53]

You're not planning to remove the body merely to get the engine out are you ?
Or are you starting a restoration ?

Ralph.

[Silver280zx]

You're not planning to remove the body merely to get the engine out are you ?
Or are you starting a restoration ?

Ralph.

I am starting a restoration.