The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Should I pull the engine or just put on stands

I have a question that I am sure is pretty much common sense to most on the forum, but like I have stated before, I am new. I am new to cars anyway, but have only had motorcycles my whole life, but a car is a brand new idea for me and I am learning, but what I am trying to say, is I am not completely inept with my wrench, I am just dealing with 2 more wheels now. I started working on my 57 chevy with the idea that I was going to leave the engine in and clean it and replace the gaskets then get it running and work from there. I don't want it to be a show car, but do want the 50 years of grease and dirt off so I can at least see where it will be leaking from once I replace the gaskets. I started top and was working down. I took the head and had it rebuilt at machine shop and replaced the gasket and side cover with gasket and water pump and intake and exhaust and carb. Now I went under and took off the steering arms and oil pan and now I am in desperate need to either lift it at least 6 inches to work on it or hoist the engine out so I can work on it better. What should I do? I realize now that I did things a bit backwards, but am looking for the best way to do what I want now that I am in this position. I keep seeing that people are lifting their engines out by loosening a couple head bolts and slipping chain around them. I don't like that idea since I just replaced that gasket and I also don't think it is a great idea for the bolts to come in and out that much and for the pressure on the threads. I just want a bit of experience to help me out. Thanks

IMO - I'd rather take it out myself. That can't be any harder than working around and under trying to clean it. I think it would be safer too. I think the head bolts would be OK. YOu are going to retorque them after warming it up anyway aren't you?

I would have got it running first to be sure it was a good engine before throwing money and labor at it,
Scott

Are there any bolt holes on the sides or front or back? Any 3/8" hole will work as long as you have the chain up tight against the block. And If I was pulling it out, I would pull motor and trans as a set, clean them as a set and then replace. It will be easy to change oils and clean the frame once the drive train is removed.

Loosening the head bolts is not a big deal. It hasn't run yet, so loosen a couple and install the chain. Remember to tighten them back down or you could bend them with the weight pulling sideways on them. Once you are all done and back together, just torque the two you had out back to spec's.

Once started and driven a while, you will need to torque all of them again.

Joe

It was my wifes grandmothers and ran until last year when she passed away, but it has been sitting and there is so much oil and grease that it is clear at least that the gaskets where trash, so I know the car is good, and the machine shop said the cyl head looked great. I appreciate the responses and think I am going to pull it out. It was murder taking the oil pan off with it on the car and not even on jack stands.

You should have got it running and took it to a carwash and ignored the sign that says no engine washing. It doesn't get it all that clean, but most of the grime and mud will come off and make the rest easier.

I agree that pulling the engine is the easiest and best way to get the thing clean. While it's out you can do some detail work in the engine compartment.

I have to agree with 48BigTrucks. An engine that is heavily "gunked up" could very well have some serious blow-by from the rings which all the detailing and gaskets in the world isn't going to remedy. Get it running, determine how much compression you've got......with the head redone, if the rings are weak, you'll just compound the problem of blowby and just put additional stress on the lower end of the engine.

It would be a waste of time and labor to pull the engine only to find that after getting everything cleaned up and re-installed you were going to have to pull it again to address some necessary machine work and new rings. Heck, you might get lucky......good oil pressure, acceptable compression, no knocks, cooling or timing gear issues, and you'd be in business for a driver. With your own admission of having limited experience with automotive mechanicals; which could translate into not having an engine hoist, jacks, stands and other related equipment, wrestling a 620 pound engine out for a detail job is not going to be a fruitful/fun project. Especially if you discover it's got to come back out for some major repairs.

I'd think long and hard before I skipped the basic diagnosis.

Dave

put the pan back on, new filter/oil, and def get it running before going any further. and pulling the engine and trans as a unit is not an inexperienced one man job. do you have access to an adjustable hoist for the angle of attack to do that? and even if you pulled the radiator and grill etc, it's still only a maybe inexp one man job. not that it can't be done, but you should know more/be more than not inept with a wrench

I don't know of too many engines of this age that don't have 1/2 inch or better of grease oil and grime on them. You should remember that when you clean the engine off and/or pressure wash it, you may make it leak worse.

A cherry picker is still less expensive than a mechanic to pull the engine for you. If your engine is dead in the water in the truck, what have you got to loose with the engine out of the truck (with the exception of some time and space). Taking it out isn't nearly as hard as putting it in by yourself. Just don't try to leave everything intact on the engine before to pull it. Take off the carb, distributor, fuel pump, fan, etc. Lighten the load and minumize the risk of banging it against something and breaking it.

You say you have experience with wrenching on motorcycles. This is just another mechanical object with similar principles (of sorts) but the parts are just bigger, heavier, different and more pieces (maybe).
Get a service manual, pull the engine, clean it and the engine compartment and get another car/truck freak to help inspect it. Straighten the oil pan gasket surface read some "How to" engine rebuild books for assembly and cleaning methods.

We will certainly entertain you with answers to your questions. You can also get pictures on line to make situations clearer for us.
The trick is knowing who to listen to.

You aren't alone here on the Stovebolt pages. Most of us have been at this point. Some will never get there.

The only person talking you out of anything is you. You get to choose to be a doer (Let's do this!) or naysayer (I can't).

Keep us up to date, and good luck.

Thanks Joe H and Builder, you guys seem like you understood my question. I am confident in whatever I do, and I never said I was working alone. More than anything, I like to hear from experienced people who have been around tell some of their stories about how they would go about it. The last thing I am afraid of is the work. That is my hobby and I like to get my hands on everything for the purpose of learning. So I appreciate it guys. I have access to all the tools, just did not have them the day I wrote the first post and was pondering what step to go to next. Thanks guys