What 's the best way to remove an engine.

[ar1424]

I have 1976 20ft Reinell w/Mecruiser 888 Ford 302.<br />What is the best way to remove an engine?<br />Do I unbolt the engine mount that bolted into the boat or unbolt the engine from the engine mount?<br />Any suggestions are appreciated.<br /><br />Also any suggestions/advice how can I remove it from the boat? I can not use a Cherry Picker the boat is tall?

 

[horndog]

Re: What 's the best way to remove an engine.

i don't know how you are going to get out that motor without a cherry picker. That motor is heavy! Even if you had you and 4 of your strongest buddies, how you going to get it out of the boat? its a long way down from the gunwall to the floor and dropping an engine is not good for it nor you could cause some serious injuries if that motor lands on somebody.<br /><br />It is hard to say how to get it out, depends on how it is in there and what are you going to do with the motor once it is out. <br /><br />is it going to be on the floor or is it going to be on a stand? if its easier to unbolt the engine mounts and easier to get it out of the boat, then just unbolt the mounts. <br /><br />stare at it, and a 6-pack later you will figure it out

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: What 's the best way to remove an engine.

I have a similar setup and have recently removed engine. The local auto store was selling cheap (chinese) block & tackles rated at 3 ton. I used the very solid beam in my carport. Undo bell housing bolts, wiring looms, fuel lines etc. Disconect engine from mounts - it gives you more clearance when lifting out of the bilge. My engine mounts fell over when the weight if the engine was removed (stringer was rotting). If the driveshaft isn't siezed it will lift out no problem. Role the boat backwards and lower the engine onto something (watch the windscreen) - I used a modified supermarket shopping trolley. It all worked out great.

 

[ar1424]

Re: What 's the best way to remove an engine.

Dunaruma,<br /><br />Did you have to remove your outdrive first before removing the engine? <br /><br />If you just remove/un-bolt the bell housing, would that disconnect the outdrive?

 

[record hunter]

Re: What 's the best way to remove an engine.

I have a mer cruiser and have removed the motor several time,s. I built an a frame out of lumber make sure it is tall enough acount for the height of motor and the pulley tackle and give a little x tra. You first have to remove the outdrive and in the back you have two mounts tha sit ontop of the bellhousingin the back of the motor.I unbolt the motor from the mounts .And when you put the motor backin have someone who knows what they are doing check the alignment you do it through the back with a special tool before the outdrive goes back in .Good luck.

 

[flashback]

Re: What 's the best way to remove an engine.

try a tool rental place. many of them have a hi-lift cherry picker used mostly for pulling engines out of trucks but works well on boat also.

 

[conimicut1]

Re: What 's the best way to remove an engine.

I posted on this issue herea few days ago, Get the engine all ready to pull out find a backhoe guy nearby, tell him you need him for an hour tops. I paid a guy $50 bucks for pulling mineand he felt bad taking it! No hassels of building stuff or worrying about stuff collapsing.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: What 's the best way to remove an engine.

SweetOkole, I run a vp280 outdrive and it doesn't need to be removed to remove motor but I did anyway for general maintenance, the driveshaft just slips out of the vibration damper. I don't know about the mercruiser but as stated in other replies its a good idea to remove outdrive so that realignment can be done correctly.

 

[kdmiller8251]

Re: What 's the best way to remove an engine.

Another way to get the engine out that is easy is call a tow truck, not the flat bed type but the other type.... They can lift it out.<br /><br />Tallman

 

[akriverrat]

Re: What 's the best way to remove an engine.

leave mounts in boat if possible. you need enough room in front of engine to slide it forward 8-10" to disconnect splines from coupler. merc says to re-align driveshaft any time its disconnected so outdrive really needs to come off anyway.

 

[gilby246]

Re: What 's the best way to remove an engine.

I pulled a 350 from a 79 slickcraft with a 260 mercruiser (didnt remove outdrive). I rented an engine hoist to pull the 350 out and put in a new one. After I replaced the engine I then brought the boat to a marina where they made sure all was balanced and mechanically sound. I had been told to make sure I bring it in because very bad things could happen if things didnt line up quite right. I Had the boat for 3 years after that and never had a problem..... good luck

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: What 's the best way to remove an engine.

I partially disassebled my old 350s inside the boat first (removed manifolds, intake manifolds and heads) then used a simple chain hoist suspended from 2x6s to lift the blocks out. It was a pain. You're better off taking it where they can lift the whole thing straight out for you. Any good garage that has a chain hoist and high ceilings should be able to do it for you.

 

[denniz]

Re: What 's the best way to remove an engine.