Hello everyone. I hope I am not out of line asking this question seeing how this is a Ford forum but didnt have anywhere else to go? I havent posted many posts but am allways reading all of the posts. My wifes 95 3.8 lesabre needs swaped out bad piston. When I was younger I used to change engines but have never did a front wheel drive. I guess the only difference is the engine sets in sideways and the fuel injection. The garage quoted $4,000.00. Car isnt worth that much. I wouldnt be in any rush doing it. Is this a major job?? How hard is it to disconect the transmission from the engine? Again sorry for the GM question and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!!
Thanks to all
Kevin

 

Most times on front drive cars, it's easier (if you've got the equipment) to remove the engine and transmission as an assembly from underneath the car still bolted to the subframe, seperate the engine and transmission out of the car, swap 'em out and go bassackwards for reassembly. I've never tried pulling a traverse front drive car's engine from up top; it seems like too much work compared to dumping the whole thing out from below.

 

for the cost of the engine repair...


you could just replace the whole car for less $$$


yes you can

...zap!

 

it is much cheaper to do the job yourself. if you have the resources and the equipment you can do it yourself it is not that hard.undo all your conections. just jack front of car up as high as possible. use your engine hoist to hold the engine assembly in the car from up top. then take out the four craddle bolts and use your hoist to lower the whole assembly on to the ground. seperate trans from engine and remove engine from craddle. set new one into place and reverse for installation. it looks hard but it is quite simple. it just looks scary.

 

Honestly, the 3800 comes out the top very easily. That's the method I use.

 

The 3.8 will come out the top with tranny attached if you take the hood off, I think the hardest part of pulling those motor is getting the CV shafts out of the tranny. Just label everthing and if your pretty good with your hands and have all the parts you can do the swap in 1-2 days

 

You don't even have to pull the tranny (or deal with the axle shafts). After disconnecting everything else, remove the transaxle bolts, the starter, and the flexplate cover. Unbolt the torque convertor, put a jack under the transaxle, a hoist over the engine, and lift it right out.

 

I did a front wheel drive Windstar from underneath - didn't have a choice engine and trans as a whole - I'm just mentioning this because it actually went real well and it was fairly fast that way.

 

it is much easier and better to drop it out the bottom. if you leave the tranny in the car then you have to try and see everything and do all that stuff in a car. and get your hands in tight places. it is much easier to drop the whole thing out the bottom then every thing is right there and there is nothing that you can not see. I do one of these once a week a the buick dealer i work at trust me it is better if you drop it out the bottom.

 

No offense, but I don't trust you. Your bio says you're a detailer and porter, yet you do "one of these once a week"? Okay. I've pulled 3800's out of H bodies, and in these cases, it's much, much more work to try and go from underneath. It takes longer to R&R a tranny from underneath than it does to R&R the engine from up top. It's also very easy to "try and see everything and do all that stuff", because there is less "stuff" to deal with going out the top (in this case). How long does it take you to R&R a 3800 in an H body? Just curious.

This doesn't apply to all, or even most, FWD cars, but the 3800 H bodies are much easier from up top.

I'm still trying to figure out why a Buick dealership would let their detailer/porter R&R engines every week, but that's pretty cool for you! I'd hold on to that job.

 

Thanks for all of the ideas and suggestions. I think I am going to give it a try depending on the engine cost. I will be in no rush so I can take my time. Like Zap said I could almost buya new car but this car is in mint condition and dont have that much invested. So I knew the Ford guys could help me out. Thanks again!!!
Kevin

 

kcmanbly,

The first tool you should buy is a shop manual. A good one will have the proper procedure for removing the engine. If you don't have the proper tools then coming out the bottom is the wrong way to go. With limited resources by far the best way to pull the engine is from the top. The manual will list the proper procedures and the correct sequence. Good luck with your project.

JMC

 

i assist our engine tech at the dealership but that is not my main job i do that when not porting at the dealership i would kill my self if i did. i work on cars on the weekend in a friends shop also. i have four years tech training and have been around cars for many years. i think jmc is right just get a shop manual and do it that way. though it will tell you to pull it out the bottom. sorry if you think that you know everything. it would be a shame that a porter would know a little something about cars wouldnt it. so instead of bad mouthing people maybe you should know a little about them first dont you think.

 

Oh the drama GM's cause...

 

Sad but true....