engine picker

[Bri7man]

I have the orange engine hoist from Harbor Freight and I'm not happy with it.

I have to jack my car about a foot for it clear underneath and come in from the side with the tire in between its supports. I then literally climb in my engine bay and stand(yes stand) on my transmission to lower it into its home. Iit doesn't reach the middle of the engine bay and takes one person to grab the engine from the other side and pull it into the mount holes while another lowers it. Then a 2by4 to lever the engine away from my strut tower which got crushed this time along with a vsv and brake master cylinder.

Even when doing this its jammed against my wheel so I put a board so it doesn't destroy my wheels.

I paid about 125 for it so the price is right but after dropping my engine in today for the second time with this ridiculous procedure I think I'm done with it.

Does anyone have or know of a hoist that clears from the front?

 

[Poodles]

extend the boom all the way and go in from the front...

 

[gaboonviper85]

This isn't a hoist issue...it's a "you" issue! Most engine lifts large enough to reach the motor have issues with our cars ground clearance...you need to be prepared for this and do what needs to be done to get the lift's feet under the car...my good friend has the exact same lift from HF and he managed just fine in a tiny ass garage! You simply need a Jack with a longer boom and you need to learn how to set up your chains or load leveler!

I'm betting you tied the boom into the center between the two hooks on the motor...this is bad and makes lifting the motor a bitch! You need too tie it further forward just above the coil packs....little common sense goes a long way....also having an extra set of hands help!

 

[Poodles]

Yeah, load leveler makes it MUCH easier.

 

[gaboonviper85]

This is how you tie up a 7m without a leveler with transmission still attached

this is in my garage which is small...Iwantmkiii and I have gotten damn good at pulling motors in shitty conditions...I have faith we could pull a motor in a closet by now lol

 

[Bri7man]

That's exactly how I did it and the boom was all the way extended.

It's weird if I'm one chain link off that fucks up the tilt of the motor in getting it in or out and have to lower it set it and move a link up or 2 at least 7 times on each occasion. I scratched up my oil pan pretty bad in an area this time.

Shoving jamming wedging and lowering and raising the tranny end with a jack is part of the process too.

I'm still not sure what I'm doing wrong. When chained exactly as you have it int he pic the engine still drags along the driver side of the bay and it can't go any further being jammed against the wheel.

 

[gaboonviper85]

doing this by yourself is damn near impossible without a load leveler...this is why youre having troubles....

adam and id work together...one mans the jack and the other maneuvers the the load

 

[Bri7man]

Oh well no wonder... last time I did it with a buddy but this time it took longer with about the same issues.

Here's how I had it positioned and stuff maybe you can point out if you see anything that is making it so hard.

This is just before I put the board in front of my wheel so it didn't get jacked:

This is when I literally stood on top of my tranny to get it down and under.

That 2by4 was the only thing making it possible using it to wedge it away from the driver side of the bay and you can see the strut tower is a bit crunched.

 

[gaboonviper85]

going in sideways is your big problem....although ive done it but it was a team effort with iwantmkiii.

going in from the front is how its done!

 

[Wayne G.]

Harbor Freight offers two models. One is a Two Ton the other is a One ton.
The One ton version looks very simmilar but does have a "shorter boom arm"
Which do you have?

 

[lewis15498]

Come in from the front as others have stated...and take your hood off.

 

[SupraMario]

Snap-On used hoist from Craigslist, $100.

As others have said you need to basically have the car a good foot off the ground to have the legs clear.

 

[Poodles]

Not meant to go in from the side...

 

[suprarx7nut]

Going in from the side can be fun in the bedroom, but dont try it in the garage. :nono:













:naughty:




Seriously, come at it from the front and you'll make it infinitely easier...

 

[92nsx]

My 2 Ton OTC picker also dosent clear the front A- arms. When I removed my 7M I just put a 2X6 under each of the front tires and had no problems then.

I :love: my new OTC picker. Every thing extends out so no more standing on the back of the picker to prevent it from tipping forward,(when removing tranny with the motor) and yet every thing folds up into it self. Maybe 16" X 24" foot print when folded up. Another example of you get what you pay for. I also had a cheap harbor tool picker and was not happy with it. Hint why I went out and got a OTC one.

 

[Sawbladz]

Get a load leveller! I bought one with my engine hoist. I wouldn't even try this without one. They are so cheap and make the job so much easier.

 

[Bri7man]

Harbor Freight offers two models. One is a Two Ton the other is a One ton.
The One ton version looks very simmilar but does have a "shorter boom arm"
Which do you have?

This is the one ton... no wonder because it does not fit going from the front unless i take my bumper off which I've never done. Is that a bitch btw?

Going in from the side is amazing in the bedroom, but dont try it in the garage. :nono:













:naughty:




Seriously, come at it from the front and you'll make it infinitely easier...

Fix't :biglaugh:

Get a load leveller! I bought one with my engine hoist. I wouldn't even try this without one. They are so cheap and make the job so much easier.

I def need one. How much is cheap what did you buy yours for?

 

[gaboonviper85]

They are about $70

you don't need to remove the bumper...just Jack the car up enough and keep it up.

 

[gaboonviper85]

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_19979_19979

win!

 

[lewis15498]

I got a duralast leveler from AZ for like 40 iirc. But again you get what you pay for. I wasnt happy with the leveler crank, but the end of the shaft was hex so I just took the crank handle off, threw a socket and ratchet on it. Viola! 10 times faster and less tiring.