7.4 GI Engine Removal

[alindquist]

Hi guys, I'm about to pull the engine in My 1999 232 Cobalt and have a few questions I 'm hoping you guys can answer.
First things first
Engine is 7.4 gipwtr, serial number is 4112049663
I have the manuals and think I have everything disconnected and it's ready to pull but I'm not sure where to lift from. My dealer said that he thinks there are lifting points installed on the motor already. The manual makes no mention of this. I looked at the engine and there appears to be a lifting point on the front on top of the thermostat housing and 1 behind the cylinder head on the starboard side. See the diagrams below:
Cylinder Head 7.4GIPWTR - 7797468 - Volvo Penta
Cylinder head #25 (called bracket)
Cooling 7.4GIPWTR - 7797468 - Volvo Penta
Thermostat housing #4 (called bracket)

So the question is are these the lifting points and if they are should there be a third one the back side of the port cylinder head?

If these are not the lifting points then where should I be lifting this from.

Thanks in advance,
Aaron

 

[cr2k]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

Those be yer lifting points. Pull the drive?

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

I would NEVER trust the "lifting point" that is on top of the thermostat housing to support the weight of a 454 big block! You are glutton for punishment. Those are only 7/16" or 3/8" bolts holding that thing on. My understanding is, that tiny little bracket on the thermostat housing is for making small adjustments to the engine position once the weight of the engine is sitting on the mounts. I would not move forward with the lift, until you verify you have the proper lifting points installed. I have a pair of them lying around here. I can get a pic of them and post it to show you the difference.

 

[alindquist]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

Thanks, I was a little nervous about the thermostat point, I'm going to look and see if I missed something, seems there should be another one on the front side of opposite head.

And yes, the drive is off.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

Here ya go...

The top one is the factory lift point on a 1998 Vortec 350 (I can't find the mate, they look near identical though) It is 5/16" flat bar stock.
The two lifting points on the bottom (left and center) are from an 80's 3.0 litre 4 banger. Only 3/16" bar stock.
The little one on bottom right is the thermostat housing "hook". I wouldn't trust that thing to lift anything of value several feet off the ground! I usually throw these little buggers in the scrap heap!

You should have one of the big ones (top of picture) mounted to the ends of each head, opposite corners.

OR...you could yank the carb, and install a lifting plate to your intake manifold...provided it's cast iron and not aluminum.

I personally have never used an intake manifold lifting plate, and have no desire to use one. I think the heads are the second strongest lifting point, next to the block itself.

Good luck, and be safe!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

Take the exhaust manifolds off to make it lighter.

 

[sam60]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

I removed the carb and used an intake manifold lifting eye to pull mine, worked very well.

 

[alindquist]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

This is an mpi so no carb, I'm hoping to not have to pull that off. I'm going to give it another look here in a few hours and see if I missed something or if I have access to something I can run a bolt into.
Thanks,
Aaron

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

...if I have access to something I can run a bolt into.

Not one bolt...TWO! One bolt is not safe lifting 400 pounds. (half the weight of the engine)

What I do when an engine I'm buying doesn't have the factory installed lift points on it is simple. Remove the alternator bracket or power steering assembly first. That gives you access to their respective bolt holes in the face of the block and heads. Get a length of chain and run a bolt through a link at each bolt hole location. There will be no fewer than 4 potential bolt holes that are 1/2" or 9/16" Use grade five bolts (not eight, they are brittle) And what Bruce said is absolutely right. Taking off the exhaust manifolds/risers/elbows will shave off over 100 pounds! Oh, yeah...make sure the block is drained of any water as well. Anything you can do to remove unnecessary weight before you pull is a good thing!

 

[Bondo]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

Not one bolt...TWO! One bolt is not safe lifting 400 pounds. (half the weight of the engine)

What I do when an engine I'm buying doesn't have the factory installed lift points on it is simple. Remove the alternator bracket or power steering assembly first. That gives you access to their respective bolt holes in the face of the block and heads. Get a length of chain and run a bolt through a link at each bolt hole location. There will be no fewer than 4 potential bolt holes that are 1/2" or 9/16" Use grade five bolts (not eight, they are brittle) And what Bruce said is absolutely right. Taking off the exhaust manifolds/risers/elbows will shave off over 100 pounds! Oh, yeah...make sure the block is drained of any water as well. Anything you can do to remove unnecessary weight before you pull is a good thing!

Ayuh,... I believe, All of the accessory bolt holes, includin' the bellhousin' flange are 3/8"-16,....

A 3/8"- 16 gr.8 bolt will support, I believe 80,000lbs, shear,.... donno's that's all that Brittle,...
but gr.5s will support any of the loads in this topic,...

Generally, I use the supplied liftin' points, even the 1 on the t-stat housin',....
To this point in time, I've never had any Issues because of it,...

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

I'm only making my suggestions based on safety. I can't imagine anyone wanting to argue with my logic of redundancy. If only to save damage or destruction to an engine or boat hull. Certainly to prevent the death of a person. If an individual wants to risk damage to himself or his property by suspending a near half-ton object with three 3/8" bolts, that is certainly his prerogative.

I have great respect for your knowledge Bondo, so I will not try to defend my position any further. And I do admit my mistake about the bolt hole sizes. I was thinking of the socket sizes of those bolts. (Was in a hurry to go eat dinner)

My apologies if I misinformed anyone reading my replies.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

I'm only making my suggestions based on safety. I can't imagine anyone wanting to argue with my logic of redundancy. If only to save damage or destruction to an engine or boat hull. Certainly to prevent the death of a person. If an individual wants to risk damage to himself or his property by suspending a near half-ton object with three 3/8" bolts, that is certainly his prerogative.

I have great respect for your knowledge Bondo, so I will not try to defend my position any further. And I do admit my mistake about the bolt hole sizes. I was thinking of the socket sizes of those bolts. (Was in a hurry to go eat dinner)

My apologies if I misinformed anyone reading my replies.

Ayuh,.... I ain't arguin', just statin' my life's experiences,....

 

[alindquist]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

Thanks guys, didn't have a chance to get in there today. I'm gonna check it out tomorrow, hopefully it will be a little warmer...

 

[icyveins]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

you would be suprised at what our mechanics use to pull Cat engines out of semi trucks..... I just turn my head at the small hardware they use

 

[alindquist]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

Just to give you guys an update, I took another look at the engine yesterday and there is a lifting ring on the front opposite head. Engine comes out Friday, hopefully everything will go smoothly.

 

[Walt T]

Re: 7.4 GI Engine Removal

Pulled many engines, seen chains, bolts, cherry pickers, and specialized engine pulling brackets all fail dropping engines. Always assume that no matter what you use it can fail. So stay out from under anything that can drop. The more bolts you can use for lifting, the better. I try to install safety bolts that don't lift but will stop a falling motor. Fortunately I've never seen anyone hurt by all this falling mayhem.