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Does anyone know how to build one of those tripod things that people use to pull engines out of cars? How do you guys remove your engines? I dont have a garage and I need a good way to get my engine out without trying to get 10 people to help me. Thanks, Damon

subaru engines are surprisingly light.... although you can also rent engine hoists and stuff... harbor freight sells them cheap, too

I cant really use anything like a cherry picker since I dont have a solid surface to work on. If I had a concrete floor under the car that would make it much easier.

Subaru engines aren't that light....

If you want a make shift setup. Get three metal poles stand them up above the engine bay. Drill holes in both ends of each pole. Put a cable through the lower holes. This will keep the legs from coming apart. Use a U bolt/clamp setup. connect the top part of the poles together, and fashion some sort of loop to hang a pulley off of.

Then pull the motor straight up, and roll the car back.

Granted this is WAY over simplified....and not exactly the safest thing to do.

got a big tree with an overhanging branch? one of those plus a come-along is how my neighbor does it. brings the phrase "shade tree mechanic to a whole new level! kind of a PITA to be maneuvering the car instead of a cherry picker though.
i would say that an ej is light, I have carried a long block about 10ft by myself with some effort. dont recomend it though.
also, a sheet of osb plywood or 2 will work for a cherrypicker to roll on if the surface is level enough. not as nice as smooth concrete but better than dirt or gravel.

Cherry pickers are real cheap and you can use it the same way as building the stationary crane Josh describes. Just set it in place over where it needs to be, chain it up and pull. Then you can push the car back. If the casters sink into the ground it'll be no different than having a stationary crane. These engines are pretty light. A friend and I carried a long block into my kitchen and I can carry a short block. Try moving a SB or BBC like we did at the marina and forget it.

Steve

A while back I built what I call "the gallows."

It's made of 4x4 posts with 2x4's as braces. Then you can take a thick pole and put it across the top for extra support and so the wood doesn't get destroyed. Then get a come-a-long from wal-mart or your local hardware store.

You might also want to pick up some chain that is rated the the weight of your engine with some D-rings or hooks to attach to your engine's lift points.



It is now in my back yard and has my son's swings on it. It has gone thru three hurricanes and it has outlived my porch, my pool, and my fence...twice. If I need to move it I can take it apart or just stand in the middle, put my arms up, lift it and walk. Not that heavy. When you are done you could just take it apart and stack the wood up.

I rolled my car under the front of my deck and then put one come-along one the front support and then one on the back. You can use the come-alongs to get your engine tilted the right angle to put back on your tranny pretty easy this way. If you don't have a come-along, you should, they only cost like 20 dollars and can you get you out of a world of problems.

the last 4 subaru engines i have done i have pulled out the bottom with a floor jack.

put a floor jack under the front cross member and pull the 4 bolts on the trans Xmember and the 4 bolts on the engine Xmember. then jack up the car and let the engine down.

the engine ballances nicely on the jack. then roll it out from under the car.

then let the car down.

easy as that


-=Suberdave=-
www.suberdave.com

suberdave wrote:the last 4 subaru engines i have done i have pulled out the bottom with a floor jack.

put a floor jack under the front cross member and pull the 4 bolts on the trans Xmember and the 4 bolts on the engine Xmember. then jack up the car and let the engine down.

the engine ballances nicely on the jack. then roll it out from under the car.

then let the car down.

easy as that


-=Suberdave=-
www.suberdave.com

I'll have to give that a try.. I have my xt6 on blocks right now with the tranny out but the engine still in.. need to take engine out and rebuild