Pull engine from above or drop it from below?

[Jeff N.]

Ya mean like this?

[Jeff N.]

[aston_jag_tech]

Remove it from the top. This way if you need to move the car for some reason, its not dead in the stall. Also, Thats how I swapped my engine from my car.

[Jon K]

Take the trans with the motor, trust me.

[Dash01]

Good point totally didn't think about that! Top it is.

What I have is a cherry picker to remove the engine from the car parked in the driveway, as permitted by January weather in the Pacific Northwest. So, I'm looking for the most efficient way to swap M30 engines in an E34.

I'd figured on leaving the tranny in the car, but that poses alignment and access issues with the torque converter, as well as working those pesky upper bell housing bolts. This would save having to remove the exhaust pipes, disconnect the drive shaft, etc., but would pose other issues instead, such as getting to and re-installing the 3 bolts on the torque converter.

Bentley says that to remove/swap the tranny, unbolt it and leave the engine in the car, which presumes decent access to the upper bellhousing bolts, etc.. So, per Bentley, an M30 engine can be disconnected and reconnected to an automatic tranny without removing BOTH from the car while still joined together.

Probably, I'm imagining problems that are not so bad, while ignorant of unknown problems that may not be apparent until re-assembly.

So, any further tips and tricks will be much appreciated, especially those with pictures attached.

[Jon K]

Remove it from the top. This way if you need to move the car for some reason, its not dead in the stall. Also, Thats how I swapped my engine from my car.

Good point totally didn't think about that! Top it is.