putting the engine back in - we had some issues, any tips?

Jim_rx7 · February 11, 2009, 08:42:48 PM

this is the second rx7 I\'ve pit an engine into and the last one went smoothly.

We had some issues today!!

We got the drivers side engine mount in place the gearbox sitting more or less perfect with the flywheel. The passenger side mount was in place, but not quite right as the threaded part wasn\'t sitting in the whole.

We then tried lifting the engine slightly, taking the mount off and sitting it where it should be. Then attempted tobilt it to the block. That didn\'t go so well as we only got one of the holes lined up.

At this point we had had enough for the day. Dropped the engine back down and now the top 1/2 of the block isn\'t sitting well with the gearbox.

We\'re gonna lift it back up 2mw, put the mount on the block 100%, then lift the car slighty. Aim is one of us to go underneath and guide it into place. Arrrrgh!?!?

Is there a full proof way to do this? Like I said last time it wasn\'t this bad!

Thanks in advance!!

karl_tate · February 11, 2009, 10:16:25 PM

these were the issues i had when removing and i ended up taking the mounts off because i couldnt see any possible way.

ive also heard that if you have an uprated clutch then its quite hard to line up but im not really sure why.

Jim_rx7 · February 11, 2009, 10:27:16 PM

Removing was ok... you just pull and wiggle, pull and wiggle.

It\'s the putting it in that\'s being an arse pain!!

Is it possible to have the mounts sitting in place, then to get the engine sort of into place and tighten them all up etc? It was my mate that was under the car, so I don\'t know for sure.

Does the subframe not get in the way for putting the mount to block bolts in? Hence why it has to be put in with the mounts on the block?

karl_tate · February 11, 2009, 10:47:33 PM

yeh did lots and lots of pulling and wiggling, lots of swearing and more swearing lol

well i got the bolts out when taking it out, just difficult angle. let me know how you get on.

Jim_rx7 · February 11, 2009, 11:01:03 PM

Yeah.. I can imagine alot more swearing tomorrow!

SmbFD3S · February 12, 2009, 10:03:19 AM

Lol, i had exactly the same issues as you and Karl mate, the only way i could see getting the engine back in was to take the mounts off the engine, lift the gear box to as high as it would go in the tunnel and then "slide" (i say slide lol but i mean wiggle, twist, manouvre etc etc) the engine onto the box, install the engine mounts again and lower the whole lot so the box was square to the engine... Hope you get on ok anyway

memski · February 12, 2009, 11:24:54 AM

I suppose this is why on a lot of the US sites they take the gbox and engine out as a whole unit.

m1tch · February 12, 2009, 12:20:32 PM

I know when I was round helping Prof take his engine out and put it back in, we found that the drive shaft was fouling the gearbox. Do I take it you have split the box and engine?

Jim_rx7 · February 12, 2009, 01:00:13 PM

Yeah, we split the gearbox/engine

DR SCHNITZEL · February 12, 2009, 03:14:54 PM

I had this problem too, passenger side thread wouldnt go in,

jack engine up
get three peeps, one underneath
loosen the mounts so there is a bit of play in em was what i was advised.

i have no friends so i got a garage to do it.

Jim_rx7 · February 12, 2009, 05:18:55 PM

I might have a mechanic friend coming down 2mw to give us a hand. Couldn\'t do anything today due to weather!

nikp · February 12, 2009, 05:32:50 PM

It\'s best to have the gearbox jacked up as high as it will go in the tunnel. It is possible that it could be fowling the clutch. Only drop the engine and box once the engine has been perfectly mated to the box - then it should slot straight into the mounting holes.

a.tapos · February 12, 2009, 07:14:23 PM

ive done a few if you get a swan necked 17mm ring spanner you can leave the engine mounts off till you get the engine on the box then slide the mounts in underneath,i also have the engine hoisted right at the front to help the angle and remove the front support bar,mines got a uprated clutch had to leave all the clutch bolts loose to get the bearing on,no fun

RobbieRX-7 · February 12, 2009, 11:06:58 PM

I struggled like a bitch at this point.It took us well over an hour to get both the engine mounts studs in the subframe. What i did was stand on top of the car with my feet by the passenger window wiper (bonnet removed), tied some rope round the engine mount and lift the engine just enough to slip the mount into the hole. Did it without removing the mounts. It was by far the hardest part of the whole rebuild

karl_tate · February 13, 2009, 05:32:41 PM

what was the reason you had to leave the bolts loose on the clutch??

putting the engine back in - we had some issues, any tips?

DR SCHNITZEL