Sorry if this is covered elsewhere. I was unable to find it with the search tool.
My engine needs an overhaul, and the transmission needs work, too. I have consulted the factory service manual, the Bentley book, and the Chilton book, but none of them discusses removing the engine and transmission together as a unit. Is it possible on my 86?
Thanks in advance,
Albert
1986 Tercel 4WD Deluxe with one SR-5 seat installed and 261,000 miles driven.
yes certainly possible. You have to remove the hood of course, and you need a hoist with enough reach to get farther back on you lift strap. It will be helpful to have an assistant to lift and move the hoist while you or someone guides the tail shaft housing out the tunnel while the front of the engine is raised high enough to clear the radiator mount cross member. But it can be done solo, if you are careful.
I have taken the engine out by itself, and with the trans, and I have dropped just the trans from under the car. If you were not planning on doing service to both the engine and trans, than I suggest leaving it in place. There are some on the list that think it is easier to pull the engine and trans together, but that is not my experience.
Just did this not to long ago. Like Petros said remove hood and anything securing the engine and transmission to the car. I needed to remove the whole steering unit to be able to take it out. I believe I just took the whole cross-member out and that took out the steering as well.
No need to pull steering or crossmember. I would also remove the rad,upper core support,grill, and if equiped with a/c-position compressor and condenser aside without disconnecting anything. This opens things up nicely and is so easy. I'll even open it up that far for timing/wp work. It's like engine stand easy then. The time spent is well worth the time saved while greatly improving the chances for a successful repair.
Even if you drain the trans, expect the tailshaft to spill some oil from the tilt needed to extract the whole assembly. And make sure to bias your lift towards the rear of the engine. Not too much though, remember you need some tilt. Watch for distributor interference and remove as necessary.
Thanks everyone for your replies. Splatterdog, by "bias your lift toward the rear", is this to keep the weight of the trans from tipping the whole thing toward the rear? If so, this makes sense to me. If not, please explain further.
Seems to me that removing the engine/trans as a unit avoids potential damage to the input shaft during the lift process.
Once you have the engine/trans assembly out, I'm assuming you then separate them and put the engine on a stand for the overhaul. Yes?
Connecting rod bearings were replaced at 170,000. Rings are still original. Condition of everything else is unknown. Wondering if I can still get parts for this job.
1986 Tercel 4WD Deluxe with one SR-5 seat installed and 261,000 miles driven.
engine mechanical parts are no problem, either Autozone or NAPA can get what you need locally, or order from Rockauto.com (watch out for the shipping charges, often you save a lot of money using Rockauto, but some of the parts get shipped from outside the USA so shipping makes it too costly). I just rebuilt a CRX engine for my daughter using parts from Rockauto, just leave lots of time for the parts to get to you, some took over a week to ship.
BTW, make sure you do the mods I recommend over in the head gasket replacement instructions I posted over in Repair Guilds.
