348 Engine Removal Master Sticky Thread question, and one more question

Afternoon folks...I am about to launch the removal of my 348 engine for a major service. I will use my 4 post lift for this. I have been reviewing as many threads as I can however I know there are more out there. I have been trying to use the master sticky thread index for my research (along with the search function). When I go to the Master Sticky Thread index and then into the DIY section and then into the thread on 348/355 engine removal, I get the response "The requested page could not be found". I know there are tons of threads out there including ones showing how to remove the engine on a 4 post lift....but it seems that many that I have read in the past are missing.

Can anyone advise how to get through the the relevant threads? I am particularly interested in one I have seen on the past where the lift is used to facilitate the disconnection of most components and the car is rolled back onto blocks on grade and where the engine is supported by a dolly. Then, once the body is disconnected from the engine frame, the lift is used to raise the body off the engine which remains on the dolly on the ground.

Second questions, there are a few engine removal threads indicating that the refrigerant needs to be removed from the air conditioning prior to launching the procedure. I recall someone suggesting that the refrigerant can be left insitu and that the air conditioning compressor can be disconnected from the engine to allow engine removal. The compressor and associated hoses etc., remain with the body of the car. If I recall correctly, this is specific to the 348. Is this correct? Can I avoid evacuating the refrigerant?

Many thanks for any responses
Cheers
Steve

 

Thanks for the help folks, I am a couple of hours into the process with no surprises so far
Cheers
Steve

 

Happy to report that the extraction went smoothly and took about 16 hours at a slow pace with lots of picture taking and labelling of parts. I used a slightly modified "safe" 4 post lift procedure because I left the refrigerant in the air conditioning circuit and had to fiddle the air conditioning compressor through a really tight gap when separating the engine cradle from the car body. Note that I left the rear wheels on so that they could be used to support the engine cradle. In fact I had to roll the engine cradle back after the body had been lifted a small amount to allow the compressor to be extracted without breaking open the refrigerant lines. Leaving the wheels on allowed this to occur without the use of a dolly. This is detailed below as it might help folks in the future.

A brief summary:
I disconnected/removed as much as possible with the car on the 4 post lift. Once everything that could be completed prior to the actual engine/body separation I:
- built up 12" tall 2x12 piers behind each of the 4 post ramps,
- dropped the the 4 post ramps to the same elevation as the top of the piers
- rolled the car rear wheels back onto these piers so the the front flanges of the engine cradle were located just outboard of the end of the 4 post ramps
- jacked up the car (lift 1) at the rear jacking points and placed jack stands under the rear jacking points. Note this jacking process lifts the rear wheel off the 2 x 12 piers
- jacked up the very rear of the car (lift 2) to allow additional 2 x 12's to be slid under the rear tires so that when the car is lowered from this second lifting, the rear wheels place a load on the 2 x 12 piers due to the weight of the back of the car.
- the above means that the car is now sitting and placing load on:
- its front wheels (on the 4 post ramp)
- jack stands located under the rear jacking points (on the 4 post ramps)
- its rear wheels that are located on the 2 x 12 piers
Once this was completed, I placed another set of jack stands under the front of the engine cradle making sure the top of the jack stands were snug up against the bottom face of the engine cradle. This meant that the engine and its cradle could be entirely supported by the 2 x 12 piers and the 2nd set of jack stands.

After that is was simply a matter of disconnecting the bolts holding the cradle to the car body and lifting the car. After a few inches of lift. I took a floor jack and lifted the front of the engine cradle off the 2 set of jack stands and rolled the engine cradle back a few inches so the the air conditioning compressor could clear the cradle and remain with the body. After that, it was a simple straight lift.

Feel free to ask any questions
Cheers
Steve

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Here is a another photo that may help the above make sense

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