Looking For Pulling Motor Process Suggestion/experiences

Well, I think the time has come sooner than I wanted (was having too much fun) to pull the motor and rebuilt it. Here is the short history (I'm Thinking Funs Over). So I'm looking for suggestions and experiences on the pull process, not the rebuild. We are in the middle of trying to get Texas house and property ready to put on the market so we can get started building in Durango, so I don't have a lot of time to mess with this. There is a very experienced rebuilder of these engines in the town close to us so he's gonna do it. But he does not pull or plug them in the vehicle.

So I'm thinking of whether it is easier to pull the body off, or just pull the motor out the front. I'm assuming best to pull the hood, fenders and grill first either way? How much effort is it to pull the whole body? Worth it if I'm not really going to do the body or frame yet (no time until we get relocated)? While the engine is being redone, I plan to only do the front Geo disc and rear Bendix conversions. Next, where should I separate it from the tranny/transfer case? Please give me input and suggested steps based on what you've done in the past. Hoping to do it in a single Saturday and Sunday. Last time I pulled a motor was in my 68 GTO with an automatic almost 40 years ago. I've never actually messed with a clutch so not sure what to expect.

 

Unless you have the room, a hoist, forklift or some other form of lifting............leave the body on. No need to have it off in your way until your ready.............Fenders come off relatively easy but I see no need to pull the grill...

A Cherry Picker from HF , like a 1 ton for $99 bucks on sale or the 2 ton version at $179 is your friend.

 

Factory Service Manual. Paragraph E-5.

 

If it were me I think I would look for another engine to have rebuilt. You could keep the Jeep intact and running until the new motor is ready and if you did not have the time to install it before moving it could ride in the back of the Jeep to Durango.

 

I agree with this, but then what do you do with the extra engine? If you're moving, I would keep the jeep intact until you have an open ended time. Everything generally takes longer than expected. Last time I did an engine with a move looming I had to pull a 454, get a cylinder sleeved, rebuilt and put back in while the vehicle was out in some guys yard in the desert in AZ. Did it all alone. Had 2 weeks start to finish. I got it all together the day before leaving and had no time to do a shakedown run on my tow vehicle that i had never seen running. It was sketchy.

 

A digital camera and several key pictures before and during the tear-down--for reference/memory in putting Humpty-Dumpty back together again!

Removing minimum body parts will gain access, grill, radiator... more open access is nice, but not necessary--depends on patience level. Engine hoist which will allow precise extraction and replacement.

 

I did look thru some of the 53-71 Service Manual but didn't find anything specific. Section E is the fuel system so I'm confused.

Just found it. D not E.

While that covered the steps, it was all the obvious things, at least to me. It did clear up not needing to remove body parts. I guess I was really looking to see if there were any "special secrets" or suggestions based on prior experience before I just jump in.

 

Glen, I just decided to do it now and get it over with. I want a known quantity so it was going to happen at some point. Where I'm at now, near San Antonio, there are lots of resources. Durango is only 18,000 so much, much smaller. The place I'll be taking it to comes very highly recommended. I have both the F134 CJ and the 55 wagon with the L226. Both are unknown quantities and I want both fresh. When I called the shop owner he was familiar with both engines including quoting the years they were in Jeeps and even calling the 226 a continental used in fork lifts, etc. We've got time as the game plan is to put the house on market this spring. I just don't have the time or patience to do it myself and for the cost, I'd rather have an 'expert' do it. This gives me time to put it back in, break it in and get some miles just to get confidence before we move. The hard part is missing the enjoyment of driving it during this process, but with the noise it's not really drivable now anyways.

 

I've done engines on CJ7's (no, not an early 5 but I think close enough) both ways, removing the front sheet metal and leaving it on.
It was a bit easier with the sheet metal off but not by a whole lot.

Have you had the front sheet metal off this jeep? I ask because I've recently pulled the front off my '74 and was surprised at the cracks around the fender bolt holes.
How much project creep are you prepared for?

The only problem I had when I left the sheet metal on the jeep was running out of overhead clearance for the cherry picker. I let the air out of the front tires and gained the inch I needed for the oil pan to clear the grill.

 

Yes, engine only. Once in Durango, I'll pull the body for the full blown process. Even though I've got a 3 car garage now, it's not really set up for long term jeep in parts and the barn is a dirt floor thing. We'll be building a cement floor shop there so I'll have plenty of room and no time/space constraints Tranny and TC seem fine so get the engine going as quick as possible and back to enjoying Willie.

 

Section E in my edition. But that checklist is about it. IIRC removing the grill gives better access, and is easy, but I've never removed fenders.

 

You forgot the six hours cussing at the exhaust studs.