Engine removal with radiator in place

[marc silva]

I am getting ready to pull my motor and was wondering if it can be done without actually taking the radiator and shell off the car. I know the hood and supports have to go. All that is left is the block and head. Starter, generator and water pump is off as well as exhaust/intake. I don't mind taking a little extra time if it means not as much dis-assembly.I am just not sure if angles of removal necessary will let me do it that way.

[1955cj5]

When I pulled my motor I took the hood, radiator, shell, light bar and the crank guide off....along with the water pump, starter, generator and manifolds...

Are you taking the transmission out also as a unit?

I'm not sure if you could lift it up and out with the radiator there, but I wouldn't want to risk damage to the radiator...

[marc silva]

I plan on un-bolting them just not taking completely off just because of the wiring removal from the head lights and horn. All the stuff is old and I don't want to run the risk of screwing it up. I never thought about the height issue. My hoist will lift well over 6 feet. Its a front to back distance issue...is it too long to physically come out between the fire wall and radiator.

[1955cj5]

I just went out and measured.....Less than 3" between the crank pulley and the radiator....

I would't even try it personally...you might end up with an engine hanging and half way out and then have to remove the radiator...

If your wiring harness is original style with the ferrule type connectors at the headlights removal should not be that difficult...you can take the headlights and headlight bar off as a unit...

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by marc silva

I am getting ready to pull my motor and was wondering if it can be done without actually taking the radiator and shell off the car. I know the hood and supports have to go. All that is left is the block and head. Starter, generator and water pump is off as well as exhaust/intake. I don't mind taking a little extra time if it means not as much dis-assembly.I am just not sure if angles of removal necessary will let me do it that way.

Hey marc,
Even with help, IMO, you would be asking for trouble/damage by not removing the rad and shell. If you decide to try it that way, let us know if it can be done safely or not.

[marc silva]

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Thanks, I just was out looking and I think I will take the radiator out. My headlight wiring is connected with bullet connectors inside the bucket not using the original connection. I just don't like removing the headlight rings any more than I have to because the little spring clips at the bottom don't like to be messed with too much.(they are really fragile) but I admit sometimes it doesn't pay to try to skimp weather its time or money. It's taken me 56 years for that to sink in but it never hurts to ask. My kids always tell me "you know better..don't cheap out"

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by hardtimes

Hey marc,
Even with help, IMO, you would be asking for trouble/damage by not removing the rad and shell. If you decide to try it that way, let us know if it can be done safely or not.

I have to agree 100%.What does 160B say; "There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but there is always enough time to do it over."

[Jerry in Shasta]

Not worth the added hassle. More trouble and time to do it with the rad. in place.

[WestCoast]

just take another 30 min and get every thing out of the way, you will be glad ou did

[Tom Wesenberg]

It can be done because I had a customer that wanted me to install his new engine but didn't want me to remove the hood rods and radiator, for fear of not getting the hood lined up again. I should have walked, but I did the job.

While the radiator is out you might as well turn it upside down and back flush it. I use a sump pump and large tub to back flush, because you need more flow than a garden hose can supply.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Agreeing to remove your very expensive radiator "prior" to removing your engine makes a lot of sense.

How much sense?

Hmmmmm, ........... may sound crude; however, for instructional purposes only:

Makes about as much sense as removing your expensive white tuxedo "prior" to getting a colonoscopy?

Hope this helps someone to remember this "prior" precaution.

[RonC]

Originally Posted by marc silva

Thanks, I just was out looking and I think I will take the radiator out. My headlight wiring is connected with bullet connectors inside the bucket not using the original connection. I just don't like removing the headlight rings any more than I have to because the little spring clips at the bottom don't like to be messed with too much.(they are really fragile) but I admit sometimes it doesn't pay to try to skimp weather its time or money. It's taken me 56 years for that to sink in but it never hurts to ask. My kids always tell me "you know better..don't cheap out"

Rebuild the latches with new springs.

https://www.brattons.com/28-29-headlight-rim-set.html

[Jacksonlll]

Pull the radiator. Here is a short video of pulling an engine. Not much detail, but you can get the idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tajdM-Nq0gk

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by marc silva

Thanks, I just was out looking and I think I will take the radiator out. My headlight wiring is connected with bullet connectors inside the bucket not using the original connection. I just don't like removing the headlight rings any more than I have to because the little spring clips at the bottom don't like to be messed with too much.(they are really fragile) but I admit sometimes it doesn't pay to try to skimp weather its time or money. It's taken me 56 years for that to sink in but it never hurts to ask. My kids always tell me "you know better..don't cheap out"

While you have everything out and apart, consider moving the bullet connectors from inside the headlight bucket to just inside the radiator shell. That way you can remove the headlight bar without having to break open the headlight buckets to disconnect the wires.

[Neil Mylar LakewoodCA]

Marc,
I've seen some great pictures of your coupe on the MAFCA website from time to time. It looks very original and you seem to use it a lot. Can you tell us/me about your car. It looks like a low mileage original. Has it been in your family long?
Neil

[Mikeinnj]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

It can be done because I had a customer that wanted me to install his new engine but didn't want me to remove the hood rods and radiator, for fear of not getting the hood lined up again. I should have walked, but I did the job.

While the radiator is out you might as well turn it upside down and back flush it. I use a sump pump and large tub to back flush, because you need more flow than a garden hose can supply.

Tom,

Tell us the trick that you used installing an engine and not removing the radiator and especially not removing the hood rods. ???

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by marc silva

Thanks, I just was out looking and I think I will take the radiator out. My headlight wiring is connected with bullet connectors inside the bucket not using the original connection. I just don't like removing the headlight rings any more than I have to because the little spring clips at the bottom don't like to be messed with too much.(they are really fragile) but I admit sometimes it doesn't pay to try to skimp weather its time or money. It's taken me 56 years for that to sink in but it never hurts to ask. My kids always tell me "you know better..don't cheap out"

Hey marc,
GOOD kids, eh !
Yeah, 'bullet' connectors are our friends ! I have installed same setup inside buckets. What I recently did, when taking all apart, was to take blue mask tape and write /put on matching wires (mine not color coded). The black bullets 'all look alike' to me

Ha...now have to do wiring job over..bummer, as tape fell off . Hm, is it me or is life just getting harder

[Tiny]

Marc
I recently saw a picture where the guy left the radiator attached to the motor when he pulled the motor. He took the shell off but the radiator was still attached to motor by its hoses just dangling there.
Hard times
If you make the connectors opposite for each wire in the bucket you can only hook them up one way. Backward is impossible when done this way.

[CarlG]

If there are only 2 sets of wires, just put a tiny zip tie on one set. If there are more than 2 sets, they make zip ties with labels on them that you can mark the sets to be connected.

[glenn in camino]

No.

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

. . . didn't want me to remove the hood rods and radiator, for fear of not getting the hood lined up again. I should have walked, but I did the job. . . .

How did you get it out with the hood rods in place?

[fredski]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

It can be done because I had a customer that wanted me to install his new engine but didn't want me to remove the hood rods and radiator, for fear of not getting the hood lined up again. I should have walked, but I did the job.

While the radiator is out you might as well turn it upside down and back flush it. I use a sump pump and large tub to back flush, because you need more flow than a garden hose can supply.

You just didn't tell him you removed the radiator?


Fredski

[marc silva]

Originally Posted by Neil Mylar LakewoodCA

Marc,
I've seen some great pictures of your coupe on the MAFCA website from time to time. It looks very original and you seem to use it a lot. Can you tell us/me about your car. It looks like a low mileage original. Has it been in your family long?
Neil

I have had the car for 26 years.I bought it from the original owners son. It came from Michigan and ended up on their ranch in Calistoga in the Napa Valley 15 miles from me. It was registered last in 1963 and sat in my garage until 2007 full of antiques and car parts on it and in it.I was going to make a hotrod out of it and had all the stuff to do it. Frame, suspension, shocks etc. everything running gear wise. I needed to make it run so I could move it around to use my shop space. I started researching the car and started finding that it was very much intact with all the correct fasteners still in place, wiring, battery cables and bolts,and a lot of other things month and year correct and a lot of stuff that would have been tossed over time. Once I did that it was forget the hotrod thing.I couldn't be the one to ruin it. Sold all the parts I had for 20 years for what I paid for them, joined the Sonoma A's and the rest is what you have been seeing. The best thing I have done, and the best car I have!! We love it and it gets all the attention wherever we go! Everyone knows the car at all the meets and no one wants me to change a thing. We/I drive the heck out of it! Only thing it has a crack in the water jacket and the rear main has finally given up..That's why the motor change, but you will not be able to tell when I get done with it. That is why I need to be careful taking it apart. It has great patina.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Mikeinnj

Tom,

Tell us the trick that you used installing an engine and not removing the radiator and especially not removing the hood rods. ???

I wish I could remember the details of that one. He was standing there watching and telling me how to do the job (don't you just love that ), but I either had to remove at least one hood rod, or bring the engine up from below. I just don't recall the details, except that I was so dumbfounded by the idea he thought I couldn't get the hood rods back in the same spot.

I won't do another engine with the radiator in place.

[Mitch//pa]

"Due to insurance regulations customers are not allowed in the work area"

Sometimes customers like that accidentally get squirted with oil