Advice for installing Iron Duke in '88 Ciera

[glasspilot]

Hi all to the new message board!

I have removed the engine from my 1988 Ciera to properly re-gasket all to stop a persistent oil leak I've had for years.

Specs: "Iron Duke", 2.5 Liter 4 banger.

I used the factory manual that says to remove the engine leaving the tranny behind. What a pain in the xxxx. Hidden bolts and all. Is there any way to join the engine and tranny outside the car and reinstall both at once?

Of course the problem then is dealing with the inner CV joints as you lower the tranny down. Or do they expect you to completely remove the axles too?

Any advice will be appreciated

Andy
'88 Cutlass Ciera 2 dr.

[LordDurock]

you bet you ass there is remove the master clydernder and you ac compresser.

you need to remove the axles commpletly from the car. this is a good link
http://www.staugustinefwd.com/Diagnosis/Removal/removal.html

after that just pull her out the top...................

[I stole grandma's cutty]

I dont know if this helps at all but my stepfather was telling me about how he had to remove the driveshaft once and was able to turn the wheel all the way to the right or to the left which allowed him to slide it out with the use of a crowbar to lift things out of the way... Im not sure about the details cuz I wasnt really listening but it might save you some trouble if you experiment with it

[LordDurock]

I dont know if this helps at all but my stepfather was telling me about how he had to remove the driveshaft once and was able to turn the wheel all the way to the right or to the left which allowed him to slide it out with the use of a crowbar to lift things out of the way... Im not sure about the details cuz I wasnt really listening but it might save you some trouble if you experiment with it

well any easyer way is undo to lower alingment bolt on the strut and the streeing arm. and with the wheel bearing taken of just pull the strut towrd you and slide the axle out. like shown in the link. i found that gave me a lot less hassle then the way you step father said. i've dont this a couple times and i think it the way to

[LordDurock]

I dont know if this helps at all but my stepfather was telling me about how he had to remove the driveshaft once and was able to turn the wheel all the way to the right or to the left which allowed him to slide it out with the use of a crowbar to lift things out of the way... Im not sure about the details cuz I wasnt really listening but it might save you some trouble if you experiment with it

well any easyer way is undo to top alingment bolt on the strut and the streeing arm. and with the wheel bearing taken of just pull the strut towrd you and slide the axle out. like shown in the link. i found that gave me a lot less hassle then the way you step father said. i've dont this a couple times and i think it the way to

[LordDurock]

i like the edit you post funtion.

[glasspilot]

Thanks all for the advice! I think I'll leave the tranny in the car and install the engine to it. That way I won't have to screw with the axles. It's just a pain in the xxx to connect the 2 in close quarters down there. Especially the 3 flywheel to torque converter bolts.

[LordDurock]

well then you do it try and get on bolt hole on the fly so it going to be in the starter hole. get it nice and tight. and then jut put thestarter inabumb the motor around tell you can put a bolt in the inspection hole. or if you canget a breacker bar and isa socket on the nut onthe front pully that on the crank with the plugs out

[85_Ciera_Rebuild]

Is there any way to join the engine and tranny outside the car and reinstall both at once?


Yes...but most likely, you ain't got the means (tools) to do it.

To take tranny out....I knocked off passenger side brake/arm (two bolts at top-after marking position...and then knock off ball joint at bottom) to pull out one CV Shaft...when time comes, I'll pull transmission towards passenger side and leave in tact driver's side.

Oh, I took torque converter out by hand.

[LordDurock]

do you have and engein lift glassploit. or just being crazy you could do something like 85_cieria.... did to get the car up in the air and use to floor jacks and a crzy rig to get the hole thing out.............................just being totaly crazy.

85_cireia could you post a pict of that car in the air on all thouse objects that was crazy

[glasspilot]

Yes...but most likely, you ain't got the means (tools) to do it.

To take tranny out....I knocked off passenger side brake/arm (two bolts at top-after marking position...and then knock off ball joint at bottom) to pull out one CV Shaft...when time comes, I'll pull transmission towards passenger side and leave in tact driver's side.

Oh, I took torque converter out by hand.

Thanks for the advice 85_ciera! I'll probably leave the tranny in the car and put the engine back on it's own.

LordDurock: Yah, I borrowed a friends engine hoist. That's how I got it out to begin with! I have the iron duke on a stand inside my garage where I'm re-gasketing everything to eliminate a years long oil leak.

[85_Ciera_Rebuild]

85_cireia could you post a pict of that car in the air on all thouse objects that was crazy

In order to install it all (motor-transmission), it would have to be lifted up...or the vehicle would have to be lifted down (via lift)...either way, the exhaust pipe would have to be removed. But, you can not put motor tranny in vehicle like you can with a SBC (Small Block Chevy) motor/tranny in a rear wheel vehicle.

In this photo, I had to take the cradle out of the vehicle since motor was locked up...but I re-installed it the normal way...transmission, then motor.

[85_Ciera_Rebuild]

iron duke on a stand inside my garage where I'm re-gasketing everything to eliminate a years long oil leak.

I would do more than that....install Valve Stem Seals...and double check valve clearance.

You would need Shop Air to do Valve Stem Seals...


Question - Did your engine have Blow-By? With it running, did you take off the oil filler cap, and notice any postive pressure coming out? If so, my guess now is that the valve cover will leak if you have blow-by.

[LordDurock]

I would do more than that....install Valve Stem Seals...and double check valve clearance.

You would need Shop Air to do Valve Stem Seals...


Question - Did your engine have Blow-By? With it running, did you take off the oil filler cap, and notice any postive pressure coming out? If so, my guess now is that the valve cover will leak if you have blow-by.

hell come one. full on rebuild..............its out of the car

[LordDurock]

In order to install it all (motor-transmission), it would have to be lifted up...or the vehicle would have to be lifted down (via lift)...either way, the exhaust pipe would have to be removed. But, you can not put motor tranny in vehicle like you can with a SBC (Small Block Chevy) motor/tranny in a rear wheel vehicle.

In this photo, I had to take the cradle out of the vehicle since motor was locked up...but I re-installed it the normal way...transmission, then motor.



sure you can i did with the motor i had up for sale i did it with my 82 buick century.

a side note its way easyer to pull a small block chevey buy un doing the trany in the car and taking it out the bottom. and the motor out the top

[glasspilot]

To All:

Well, the operation is over! The engines back in and no oil leaks!

I decided to leave the tranny in the car and just re-install the engine. New gaskets for the timing cover (the oil leak culprit), rocker cover, push rod cover and air cleaner. New timing cover crank seal. RTV for the oil pan (there's no gasket on this oil pan).

I didn't mess with the valve stem seals. This motor runs great except for that oil leak. Great compression, no evidence of blow by. I've owned it since new; Castrol GTX oil its whole life changed every 3,000.

Thanks to all for the advice!

[85_Ciera_Rebuild]

I didn't mess with the valve stem seals.


This can be done later on Iron Duke Motor....its a piece of cake with the right tools.

[glasspilot]

Thanks 85_Ciera!

Been a couple weeks now and the engines staying clean. No oil loss. I can park in a friends driveway now without them yelling at me!