Installing Motor From the Bottom

[All_Boost16G]

Is it possible to put the motor back in by taking off the center crossmember and pulling the motor and tranny throught. This sounds easier than it proablly is but is it possible or is it still easier to go in the top. I was just thinking if I could slide the motor under and then pick it up with the cherry picker it would be easier to line up the passenger mount, then install the driver mount. Then just install the crossmember.

Thanks Matt

 

[DSM1G90]

? What are you going to do with the exhaust system? Plus, you have that subframe assembly where the power steering rack is mounted to deal with where you can't get the intake manifold and head past that assembly.

Be a good idea if you're going do shove a short block up that way then do the upper end....

-DSM

 

[turbolover10]

Anything is possible but your going to make it harder on yourself.

 

[93_tsi_fwd]

You dont wanna go this route, trust me. We've done it and we didnt have the cherry picker back then. The top is way easier than the bottom now that we have 1.

 

[All_Boost16G]

Like I figured sometimes thing sound really good in your head, but just wont work in real life. Right now im just trying to get the stripped flywheel bolts off the crank.

 

[dsmmaniac12787]

Yeah I put mine in through the bottom but it was just more of a pain, and could get it lined up quite right. So I pulled it back out and borrowed a cherry picker.

Dont know if I would reccomend this for anything but a last resort, but I took a dremel and just shaved the bolt heads off and ordered new ones.

 

[Anger890]

My thoughts on this will differ. Putting the engine/trans in from the bottom was far easier for me than going in with a cherry picker. I used a lift and a rolling engine dolly to install my engine. I put the engine on the dolly and dropped the car over it, took very little effort to get everythig lined up and in. I would say go for it if you have a lift.

 

[dsmmaniac12787]

If a lift is accessible that would make it a lot easier. I just couldnt get it lined up with it on the ground. I took took the engine out and left the tranny in though. That was my mistake.

 

[illeffekt vr-4]

Why would you go from the bottom? It only takes 10-15min to do from the top (assuming you have the angle set right) and it slides right in.

 

[All_Boost16G]

See that my problem I do not have a engine leveler. I got it out by using the chain to make the angle. I just put it closer to the driver side and it gave me the right angle. I was just thinking about sitting the motor under the car and then using the cherry picker to lift it up. I was just thinking that with the center cross member out you would fight less to get it between the strut towers there should be no interferance on the way up.

I dont wanna grind the bolts off beacuse im afaird it might throw the balnce off is what i was told. Also its kind of a tight area, grinding will be my last resort.

 

[silver bullit]

It takes 10-30 mins to drop it from the top.

It will take a few hours to go from the bottom, no to mention youll have to jack the car 3 feet in the air then still lift the motor up into it after the car is dropped back down.

 

[dsmmaniac12787]

When I pulled my motor I boutght a new flywheel/clutch kit so I didnt have to worry about grinding into the flywheel. But I just did that because I had hardly any tools available to me.

And if you are going to get a cherry picker to lift it up from the bottom, whats the point in putting it in through the bottom. I tried and it was MUCH easier from the top. But I guess everyone is a little different. If you think you can do it quicker from the bottom, go for it. Then you will know what im talking about.