Actually,,,

I have pulled them out, together, but with the heads off the engine. Midway between my head gasket replacement I have decided to bite the bullet, rebuild the tranny and reseal the lower end of the engine, do the lower timing chain guides and whatever else is in there so out they came.

My question is,

The unit came out somewhat easily, had to drop the center link and steering stabilizer to get more clearance but now I am kinda worried about getting the whole shebang back in with the heads and valve covers on. Is it common practice to pull and reinstall them as a unit?

(I think I will need to leave off the front crank pulley and possibly the water pump to get more clearance at the core support)

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Chas

Had a 380SL, 450SL, 380SEL, 420SEL, 500SEL

Got a Euro 500SEC right now.

The secret is to have a "leveling" hoist. That engine/tranny will have to be at a 45 degree angle when you set it in the hole.

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Jim

Here's what you need. It helps. I've used the cheap unit on my sons 65 Mustang. 289 engine and 3 speed transmission.


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42356


Dave

PS sorry try the link now.

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

126mut,

I took the engine and trans out as a unit, did the required work and reinstalled as a unit. It is much easer this way. I even had the PS pump, alt, wp, installed with belts. The only thing not installed was the AC compressor and its belt. It could have been installed with its belt, but I didn't want to open the system so I left the compressor in the car.

Good Luck

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84 500 SEL (307,xxx miles)

Removal as a unit is the standard way of doing it. Takes quite a bit less time than attempting to get the top bolts back into the tranny housing on most models.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Thanks again all,

I will definitely get that adjustable sling lift. I do remember doing an engine only removal/install in my previous 126 chassis car, a 380. That exhaust crossover was a pain to get back together, blocking the upper bellhousing bolts and all. It would be great to get it all assembled as much as possible. Just thinking about all the hours spent leaning over installing the heads, torquing them and all the other stuff going on that I decided to pull it all out. my tranny has been acting strange also so might as well kill two birds with one stone.

I did suffer a casualty on the removal of my 420's engine though, I forgot to unbolt the diagnostic pickup off the front crank pulley area, ended up shredding it. I guess I should have had a spotter?

__________________
Chas

Had a 380SL, 450SL, 380SEL, 420SEL, 500SEL

Got a Euro 500SEC right now.