minimum ceiling height for engine removal 308

It has been a few years since I removed mine, but I had to wheel the car out side to get the motor out. The boom height was too high for me. I had to hoist the motor all of the way up, sit on the back bumper of the car and push it forward. However, I could have had too much slack in the hoist straps I was using.

 

Martin,
A chain hoist can be used, but you'll have to do the following calculations to see if you can do it in 8.8'. My suspicion is it's going to be very tight.

Measure the engine compartment from the back edge of the drip groove behind the rear window to the front edge of the luggage compartment bulkhead. That's very close to the length of the engine from highest point to bottom when rotated into lifting position.

Add the above measurement to the height of the top of the luggage compartment above the floor,
+ about 3" for the suspension to rise when the engine's weight is removed
+ about 2.5 feet for straps, engine tilter, etc.
+ height of hoist & it's mounting.

Has to be less than 8.8 feet. I'd like to see about 1' to spare.

 

I took some measurements and I seriously doubt you can pull the engine with a chain hoist and only 8.8' clearance. I have 8'3" ceilings. Using a moveable engine hoist, engine leveler, and removing the rear wheels to lower the car to where the rotors are almost on the ground, I have just enough clearance to get the engine over the trunk and out of the car. In your case, at the very least, you will need to remove the rear wheels and lower the car down onto a dolly so that you can move the car and still have the necessary clearances.

 

In america if you don't have one you can just rent a cherry picker aka engine hoist. The advantage to this over chain hoist is you can move it around easy and 8ft ceiling is fine. Scrap the load lever just wrap climbing rope around the front head and pull/tilt it out.

 

Alternatively, If you use a pair of ratchet type nylon straps (get the wide yellow ones that Home Depot sells), you can use the ratchet to rotate the engine.

 

Paul (pad) and I have pulled the engine on his '83 QV a couple of times and we did my '78 308 in his garage last winter. With the portable engine hoist, it's a piece of cake, and you've got 5" more clearance than we did at Paul's place. IMHO, you are better off with an engine hoist than a chain hoist in fixed position. With the chain hoist, you are going to need to move the car out of the way to lower the engine, and you'll have to shift the car around some putting the engine back in. It's easier to move the hoist around than the car. Just a thought.

 

In my basement I’ve got 9’, but it's 8' the AC ducts so I knew right where that is and the engine crane didn't get that high the last time I did mine, close though. I choked up on the chain on the puller and I didn’t use a load leveler (mostly because I don’t have one). I kind of knew what angle the engine had to roll to come out so I just set the chains the crane was hooked to that way.

 

That's what I have and it just makes it....even with the v12 I'm trying to stuff in
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I have a folding crane and it works fine. You need about 47" from the ram connection on the arm to the hook. Also note to lift the engine out of the car, the engine will need to be angled front head up. Then, to clear the trunk as you move the engine crane backwards, you will need to level the engine since you only have about 8' ceiling clearance. The engine leveler makes this much easier.
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BTW, notice that PAD's engine leveler is about 3' long. A 18"-20" leveler (the common sizes) won't tilt the engine enough(been there!).

There's a different type leveler that cranks a length of chain thru a hub. I think it may be the best type I've ever used. That's what we used to lift Chris's engine. Will try to get the brand name & model.

 

I pushed my car outside and used a crane to lift the engine in and out, with a 20 inch leveler. My crane arm was a tad short and the bumper had to come off the GT4 to push the crane in a little bit more.

 

I think Moss Motors sells a leveler that uses a cable or chain that is cranked around a drum - might work