Lift doesn't fit

[Dans240z]

I have come to the point in which I need to lift the engine out of my car. Everything is ready to go, all fluids drained, cables undone, ect. I have run into a problem, my engine lift will not fit under the car. The car is lowered and the long legs of the lift are too tall to fit under the suspension. If the car is on jackstands, it is tall enough, but the jackstands are in the way. Also, as it says in the wick humble book, the tires should be one the car, so I guess that rules out the jackstands.

Is it possible to use the lift from the side of the car insted of the front? By placing the long arms on either side of the front wheel.

If I could get replies soon that would help, I'm planning on getting it done when I get home from school.

Thanks Guys

[First Gen Z]

Yes, it is possible and an added bonus is not having to remove the hood. Another option is to place the front tires on a couple of 4x4's for clearance.

[SteveJ]

You could also buy some flat pavers from Home Depot or Lowe's. They have flat, wide pavers that you could drive on. You could also buy some ramps and park your car on them while you pull your engine.

[LanceM]

I use the car jack under the front to lift it enough for the picker to go in, you don't have to raise it much just enough to get the lift in, once you pull the engine weight out the suspension will lift the car off the jack.

[jmanz6]

I have to park on boards to be able to get my jack under the front of my 240. I made a wide board with a small ramp on one side and a stop on the back. When I back the car into the garage, i just place them behind the front tires and drive up them the last bit. Works great.

[kenz240z]

If you are pulling the engine without the transmission you should be ok with using the engine hoist from the side. If you are going to pull the engine & transmission together you'll have to have the engine hoist in front of the car, so that you can pull it back as you lift the engine & transmission. An adjustable cradle, the kind that allows you to tilt the load, is a major help in this situation. It will keep the transmission from banging against the transmission tunnel & firewall as you lift everything out.

If you are working in a garage, make sure you have enough ceiling clearance to lift the engine out. My garage is too short to fit the engine hoist in front of my Z and close the garage door. But, with the garage door open, there isn't enough clearance to lift the engine out of the car. By clearing a few things out of the way I was able to get my Z in the garage diagonally and close the garage door. I had enough room to put the hoist in front of the car and close the garage door.

I couldn't pull the engine in the driveway because my driveway slopes down towards the street, and I didn't want to risk having the hoist roll towards the car & put the transmission through the windshield. Yikes!

FWIW, I bought an engine hoist from the local Checker auto parts store, it fits under my Z without any trouble. My Z has new Tokico HP springs and the suspension is lowered about an inch.

[sblake01]

I use a chain hoist with a tilt/level assembly bolted through a braced 6 x 12 main beam which is a good 12 ft from the ground at the point where it's mounted as my house has cathedral or vaulted cielings, whatever you prefer to call them.

[Dans240z]

Thanks for the help, it's very much appreciated. I brought up the front of the car from the center, and slid the engine lift under. I, like ken, had to close my garage door to allow the lift to go up all the way. That baby came out no problem.

I'm now in need of an engine stand, there was one at advance auto for about thirty, I don't know if it was any good. Anyways, thanks again.

Here are some pics

[LanceM]

Told ya it would work Have fun!!!!

[beandip]

Those engine stands are ok but one thing USE HARDEND BOLTS . With the engine being held by the bell housing there is a LOT of leverage against the bolts . Droping the engine is not a thing you want to do. I my bolts are 10.9s hardness . I used just plane washers , These engine stands are rather narrow so be careful when rolling the engine around the garage .

[AChev]

Dan, when it comes to engine stands avoid a three legged one at all costs. They are bad and unsturdy; a little while back I had an engine on one, I was rolling it very slowly, and since most of the weight was applied on that signle front leg, it hit a pebble, the wheel shifted and engine came crashing to the ground, hit buckets of oil, engine oil every where, complete mess, none the less it almost smashed my car and most of all me. Go to harbor freight and get the 4 legged one, they are not very expensive and many people (myself included) have been very satisfied with them. Check out this thread, it should help you out THREAD

good luck with your build

[Dans240z]

The one I was looking at had four wheels but the front ones were very close together. It didn't look so good. For about fifty dollars is there a better stand?