M103 engine and transmission removal with engine hoist
 

How high off the ground does the car a 1992 300E need to be to remove engine and transmission as a unit, in order for the tailpiece of the transmission to clear the floor?

You don't want the car any higher than you have to put it. That is going to be alot of weight hanging off of that lift and you don't want it any higher than it has to be. When you have the engine/tranny where it will clear roll the car out from under it. Try not to have to move the engine/tranny with it hanging that high in the air.

Raise the engine and start tilting. When the tail shaft hits the ground raise the engine some more. You don't need to go more than 45 degrees angle on the engine/tranny. Good luck.

In the photo in my first post the vehicle is 23" above the floor when measured from the transmission support bracket in the rear.

I'm thinking I may need to lower the car on the lift some as I lift the engine and transmission out, that way the engine and transmission will not be as high in the air. Since I don't think I'm going to have enough space in front of the car to pull the engine and transmission clear I think I'll need to push the car rearward once it's on the floor and the engine and transmission are up and out some. Does that sound right?

Also the lift is set in the position to be able to lift 1 ton so I should be fine as far as weight goes.

I raised mine about 8 inch
 

When I pulled my M103 this summer, I had the front up on my steel ramps which I feel are or is a very stable support. I had the rear up about the same, maybe an inch less, on jack stands. The transmission on my 86 W124 is a five speed manual. I think overall length is about the same as the automatic. Remove the radiator and fan and put something like thin plywood against the condenser, then take it up and turn it a little to the drivers side and it will come right out.

Engine and transmission were easy to remove, I was surprised. Of course now I'll need to put it in my 300 TE, so I'll see how that goes. I had previously removed the engine and transmisson in the TE separately.

I'm impressed. It looks like you have a lift in your garage.

Thank you. And yes I do have a two post Rotary lift, which makes working on a car so much easier. I'm sure that contributed to the ease with which the engine and transmission were removed. To remove I used the lift, the engine hoist and a floor jack under the transmission tailpiece to keep moving everything in the ideal position for removal.

Is that a toilet in your garage? :D

I have garage envy.....Must be using the toilet as the garage is way too clean:D If you ever need to try new ideas in your garage and are not sure if it will work, come try them in mine.

I finished garage a few months ago. It's not real big due to zoning restrictions, but it does have bathroom with toliet and shower, 200 amp service, heat and air conditioning, washer and dryer, epoxy floor, clean dry compressor air piped to this garage from my other attached garage which the large noise compressor is located, lift with 14' ceiling in area that car is raise, allowing hood to be completely raised with full size Mercedes at highest point on lift. Garage door can also be raised or lowered with car on the lift at any height.

Garage is a little messy now since I'm in the process of swaping engine and transmission from my sedan to my wagon.

:eek::eek::eek::eek::D:eek::eek::eek::eek:
Are you kidding me?
All you need is a bed and a TV room.