Engine "re-entry" check list

[jasoncitrano]

Ok guys getting ready to put my engine back in my 91' awd. Can anybody let me know some things i shouldn't forget. Just things that alot of people forget to to do when putting an engine back in.

I have a few questions of my own.

1. can i leave the bracket off for the A/C, i pulled the whole system and i know the cv bolts to it so what do i do about that?

2. When refilling my auto trans, can i just start pouring fluid in? should i start it or what?

3. What should i do about the oil, i don't want to start the engine without priming it first, but i'm getting the engine back as a whole and the front cover will be on, so how am i supposed to prime it?

thanks

 

[blackGSX2g]

1. I left my A/C bracket off to get it in the engine bay a little better, but to put it all on I dropped the motor underneath the car a bit.

2. Don't know much about autos, but for my M/T that was one of the last things I did...you need to have all the drive axles/transfer case on before you fill them

3. When I did mine, before I put the timing belt in, I hooked a drill up to the oil pump and filled it up with oil. I kept the drill goin till I saw oil squirt out of the head and I verified there were no major leaks. When I put oil in, I took the valve cover off and made sure it got over everything in the head. If you already have the belt on (assuming you do) you can pull fuel/spark and just crank the motor for a bit...I didn't like that idea so much so I did the drill priming.

Make sure you plugged the hole on the back of the block for the rear balance shaft...I forgot about that and had a bit of oil spray out. Its a PITA to get at once everything is all together.

 

[jasoncitrano]

thanks alot man, i'm having a guy help me out with this. it's been a freakin nightmare, theres parts everywhere, i have alot of oraginzing to do. so it's ok to bolt the cv right to the block your saying?!

 

[blackGSX2g]

thanks alot man, i'm having a guy help me out with this. it's been a freakin nightmare, theres parts everywhere, i have alot of oraginzing to do. so it's ok to bolt the cv right to the block your saying?!

Yea it was a nightmare when I first started doing it too. I've got buckets of spare parts and bolts left over from things I got rid of and parts I didn't need.

As for the CV, if you have your tranny bolted up to the motor, you can slide that half shaft that bolts up to the block in the tranny and bolt it up just fine. You can do that before or after, it doesn't really make that big of a difference. I did my half shaft after the motor was bolted up in the car but either way works.

 

[jasoncitrano]

all and all, easier getting it in or pulling it out? keep in mind i pulled the A/C, Crusie Control, and all emissions equipment... is it still gonna be a bi***?

 

[blackGSX2g]

all and all, easier getting it in or pulling it out? keep in mind i pulled the A/C, Crusie Control, and all emissions equipment... is it still gonna be a bi***?

When I took mine out, I took the head off first and I had a few buddies. It was really pretty simple once I got all the bolts out. When I put it in, I did it by myself completely assembled. It took a bit of work to get everything lined up, but I wouldn't say anything more than an hour to get the motor in and bolted up to the motor mounts. Not having to worry about emissions really helped me. All in all, I would guess they are about the same...if you can pull it, you can put it back.