My first engine drop! (questions to)

[super vw]

well, i would like to say that i just did my first engine drop today by myself .

It was quite easy, nothing was to hard other than getting the upper drivers side mounting bolt out (my skinny long arms came in handy here:P). Everything went well, i dont think i messed anything up as far as i know
Now i have lots of cuts an such on my hands and arms (stupid tar board spikes!) but thats all apart of the battle

Anyways, how are you guys holding your engines? what kinda stands are you all using? i cant keep this thing on the jack forever :P
And is it safe to powerwash the engine ? it has everything on it.. whats needed to be taken off? (electrical yes... other than that)

Also my resosns for taking it out was to clean up the engine bay, do some rust repair and have the engine bay sprayed with an undercoating or truck bed liner. aswell as clean the engine up... AND fab up a removable apron to make future engine removal easier.

Any one have any tips on takeing the tranny out aswell? things to watch out for...ect?

Later
Jonathan

[boygenius]

I don't like using a pressure washer on an engine. I use a good degreaser and a brush with a high pressure water hose.

Don't forget the ground strap on the tranny.

Soak all the bolts in penatrating oil to loosen them up.

[Rob]

I used a simple frame of 2x4's to store the engine.
It was basically a low frame with 2 'bars' where the cylinder heads rest on.

If you make it slightly higher than the lowest point of the jack, then you can
move the frames under the engine and lower the jack to put the engine on the stand.

Rob.

[craazy Cooter]

Milk crates are vw engine stands. No pressure washing. Brake cleen and a wire brush are the way to go.

[super vw]

Well, everything went well! nothing to hard at all, now i just need to strip the egnine down (tin and stuff) and clean her up.
I also got the tranny out with ease (other than sourcing the drive shaft removal tool,12 point Square splined deal) i would say the tranny is the worsts as it has at least 1/4 inch of dirt and crap stuck to it on most of it.

Any one say no to presure washing the transmission?

I also picked up a engine stand for 49 bucks from harbor freight, didnt fit the engine very well (or at all) so i got creative and fabed myself up a little mounting braket to work with the stand (no mods to the stand). worked out well, but we will see how well the braket hold up... it better not bust the welds, as i had to use flux cored .30 mig wire instead of soild wire with gas... and im not to happy using flux cored wire. i never use it so im not to good at flux cored welding (its crap). I had to use it becuase i was out of gas. but i have shaken it around a lot to test it, nothing seams to bend and i seem to have good penetration.

Here is a pic of it...

[super vw]

another pic

[boygenius]

You could use some diesel fuel to degrease the transmission. Just stand it up in an oil drain pan and use a parts washer brush. It will eat into asphalt and it smells really bad, nasty fumes.

Not the best way but it will cut through grease than just finnish up with some engine degreaser and water.

I can't stress well ventilated area enough..........