348 Engine Removal with an engine crane?

Totally unnecessary and in my opinion the wrong way to do it.

 

Know what, I'm even gonna tell you why.

In order to pull the engine out the top of a 348 you will need to get it disconnect first. Sounds easy enough, no? Drain the fluids, disconnect the hoses, and "hoist it out". If you are going to remove the engine with the gearbox still attached, have fun. See there is this thing called the subframe, and the gearbox is mounted to the 348 subframe UNDERNEATH the subframe tubing. So, you will need to tilt the engine and gearbox basically 90° to get the engine to clear the subframe tubing. Then you will need to lift it straight up and out, because the passenger cabin is in the way, and because you can't move the engine forward, the gas tank is in the way. Well how about unbolting it from the gear box. Again, not so simple. Even though you disconnect the gearbox you will still need to remove it, and that entails disconnecting the axles, removing the muffler/s, and even the bumper, PLUS removing the clutch first so that you can pull the propeller shaft out of the back of the crank. Then you are going to have to remove the rest of the exhaust system, meaning the headers, so that it will clear the engine bay. You will be creating a whole slew of unnecessary work for yourself.

You will NOT save yourself work, nor time trying to pull it out the top. Do yourself a favor and just drop it out with the subframe, the way it was DESIGNED to be removed.

 

Great post, Ernie! Unfortunately, he was not suggesting using the engine hoist to pull the engine out the top.

 

A classic case of: Always read the whole post first before replying!

 

Hmmm........

Well when he put it like this:

Lead me to believe that is what he was talking about. Plus the name in the title of "engine crane" I understood as what I refer to as a cherry picker. Especially when he posted the link to Amazon to the exact thing I thought he said, a cherry picker.

But hey, what do I know anyway.

 

Well maybe we can get some clarification from him?

What were you talking about jetfuel79??????

 

Hi David

I understand what you are talking about but not sure it will work.

I have a frame that goes under the cradle which is designed for the use of 2 floor jacks...

Biggest problem and safety issue is getting the car up high enough to slide the engine/gearbox/cradle out..

 

Okay, did some rereading of the rereading, and I get it now.

I still say the cherry picker won't work. The reason is:

1) the shock towers
2) the rear frame mounting holes

With that being said, I have seen subframe engine cradles that had bottle jack on all four corners.

 

Why would you make life more complicated than it already is?

 

As long as feathers are being ruffled, I'll run this up the flag pole. As noted in the first entry in this thread, those 12 chassis bolts I found to be a major PIA. Next engine out I'm sorely tempted to drill those bolt holes in the sub frame out by maybe 1 or 1.5 mm. I would think that would make the threads a whole lot easier to start, without seriously affecting alignment. Clever or stupid?

 

I totally understand what your trying to do but in reality the 12 chassis bolts are not that troublesome. I thought the rear subframe bolts would be the most trouble but again not too bad. What I found to be the most troublesome was the shock towers. My observations are based on 1 person doing everything. Maybe it's different if someone helps but I don't see how an engine hoist would help anything.

 

David, you're over thinking it.

You want the easiest way? Use a shop lift & a custom built engine cradle, one that you can make small adjustments to each corner for fitment. Put the subframe on the cradle then left the entire car off. That is the easiest way.

If you don't have access to a shop lift, then its two floor jacks, the way I did mine. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/technical-q/438576-348-engine-out-major.html

 

I don't think everyone read your post exactly as stated.
My comment is that if you are going to elevate the car and then use the crane to lower it out the bottom why not just replace the crane with a transmission jack and just lower everything out the bottom?

 

Good man.