Why Won't My Engine Come Out???

[CaliBroncoTMW]

Hey all--

I've gone through all the steps listed in my Haynes manual to prep the engine for removal. Nothing seems to be holding the engine in but...

When I try to lift it out, it seems still mated with the tranny and won't come loose.

Anyone with insight with what might be wrong or something I missed?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Tom

 

[ford_302]

did you unbolt the flex pate and the starter?

 

[Broncobill78]

Just to double ck here, I'm assuming the motor mounts are unbolted, the bellhousing bolts (all of them) have been removed, the starter is out & the torque converter unbolted from the flywheel, the exhaust has been cut or the manifolds removed right ? Fuel & coolant lines disconnected and all that stuff ?

It's not uncommon to have to pry the engine away from the bellhousing a bit before it'll start to move & once you get a little separation between then you'll need to pull the engine straight forward a couple inches to disengage the torque converter bolts. Even if the converter has been unbolted it can sometimes hang onto and slide forward with the flywheel, if it does that you won't be able to lift the engine because the converter will be hung on the tranny input shaft.

Frequently I'll use a large (3ft) flatblade screwdriver or a prybar to slide the engine forward once everything's unbolted and I have the lift putting a strain on it, you *have* to slide if forward a couple inches to get it off the torque converter studs otherwise it just won't budge. Put a strain on it with the lift (just a bit, don't go nuts or it'll pop loose when it lets go) and pry it forward one side at a time until it disengages but be sure to first double check that you actually have all the bellhousing bolts out and everything else. Once you're *sure* then it's just a matter of prying it forward until it swings free.