engine removal with low rise lift?

Never tried with a low-rise but 25 inches, which I reckon is about 63cm (I don't really do imperial) is never going to be enough. On my 355 I've used the 2 jack method, and also a proper 2-post hoist and I would say the back of the car needs to come up at least double that height, maybe more. I've never measured it but I doubt that 25 inches is enough.

You need to consider the full height of the engine from gearbox casing to plenums PLUS the height of your dolley. The whole thing needs to slide under the rear quarter panel where the bumper splits.

 

You might contact Casey (tech4ferrari) on here. He's in process of doing a major on his 355 without a full lift.

 

Steps below as I removed it with only a floor jack and an engine hoist. Forget the lift that you have. You will need a floor jack and an engine hoist. Can buy a hoist if you have room for under $200 if you dont have one.

1. Remove bumper, exhaust and all other necessary stuff for removal.
2. Raise the rear end and place jackstands away from the engine cradle right near the gas tank.
3. Remove and disconnect all other pipes and plugs.
4. Place the floor jack under the engine with either 2x4s of a tick square plywood.
5. Raise the floor jack enough to release strain on the cradle bolts.
6. Start taking off the six bolts on the cab end, the four bolts (2 on each side of the shock towers and the horizontal ones near the charcoal canister and the opposite side. These bolts will let you move the whole engine cradle down.
7. Remove the brakets on both sides near the back, behind the bumper that hold the charcoal canister and whatever is there on the driver side.
8. Slowely lower the cradle to make sure it is not attached to anything.
9. Make sure the wheels are off the car at the end
10. Now, with your engine hoist, loser the hoist to its lowest possible position, position a sized up 2x4 on top of the arm and run the chain thru the back and secure it to the bottom of the rear grill inner frame.
11. Start raising the engine hoist and this should raise the rear end of the car.
12. Let me add, when you park the car in its final position, make sure the front tires on on top pieces of 2x4 so that when you raise the back, the front bumper does not rub the ground.
13. When the rear is up enough to clear the top of the engine, pull the floor jack back to remove the engine cradle.
14. As you move the floor jack back, you will reach a point where you wont be be able to move since you got the engine hoist. At this point, raise the jack stands higher to hold the car up higher and remove the engine hoist. You can also use two seperate floor jacks on each side to raise the rear of the car. You will need three floor jacks in this case.
15. Do the reversal to put it back in. It helps a lot if you have a low profile jack for the engine removal purpose.

Good Luck
I can assist if you need me to if you are in the are

Steve

 

When I did the major on my 348, we lifted the car with floor jacks and jack stands and were able to get the engine out.

 

+1
I now do it with a scissor lift.

 

+2

Just make sure you have the rear bumper off.

 

Great stuff Steve! Thanks for sharing this method. I have been racking my brain how it could be done without a pro 2/4 post lift.

 

These guys did it with jack stands and a pallet jack:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=329740
Looks like the car is not that high either. Check out the pics on page 2.

 

I debated the whole lift thing too, and debated using jacks to remove the engine. However, I ended up buying a Denmar MaxJax. That thing is the bomb! It sets up in about 5 minutes and tears back down in the same and rolls away against the wall for the next needed time. After doing my 30K engine out I couldn't imagine doing it with jacks, you don't need to remove the bumper and you can raise/lower the car up and down as you disconnect stuff. Buy a maxjax, my 2CW.

Dave

 

I use this procedure (which is just about the best write-up I've come across on the subject). It's a pity the author didn't finish the series, looking at his profile he hasn't been on the site in 5 years.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53351&highlight=355+engine+removal

 

That would be me and my friend Vitor (PortoGTS)

 

I have also done it with a scissor lift in my garage with an 8 foot ceiling. Plenty of room and I would think a lot safer than the jack stand method, but you have to do what you have to do. You can get scissor lifts used, pretty cheap if you look around. Mine new was only $1600. and has paid for itself many times.
If the low rise is all you have and you dont want to get another lift, look at having a welder make some legs that would give you more lift.

 

WHY do you have to rub salt in the wound?!

Hahahaaa!!! One of these days I'll get one of those.

 

Did mine in my garage at home, I am use to using a lift at work, but doing it this way was very easy in my opinion, took a little longer but not much.
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and this is my 4 post lift ... I am not crawling back on the floor anymore.
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Some brave people here

 

Why? Because we like grease under our fingernails? Because we don't let incompetent mechanics touch our cars? Because we prefer to find an alternative other than the one prescribed by the factory? Because we like helping out each other? Because we like a challenge? and because we don't like to pay the Ferrari tax?

 

I just went out and bought a new floor jack with 23" lift and some jack stands... Getting ready to perform surgery on the 355.

I like the photos above, gives me courage

 

"Why? Because we like grease under our fingernails? Because we don't let incompetent mechanics touch our cars? Because we prefer to find an alternative other than the one prescribed by the factory? Because we like helping out each other? Because we like a challenge? and because we don't like to pay the Ferrari tax?"

Well said. I find there are two types that are oddly aggressive about owner performed work. 1st is the guy that wants to make the car out to be more special than it is, and 2nd the guy that can't do any of this work and seeks to diminish it as being lower quality work.

 

I do the work myself on my "fun" cars because I enjoy it. I find it stimulating and rewarding. It's not even a cost issue anymore, although it most certainly was when I was younger and had no choice than to maintain my own vehicle.

Ironically, my daily/family cars go to the dealer for service work!

Without wishing to be overly pompous, I have yet to find a workshop that works to my standards within reasonable distance.

 

Just started taking apare a 348 on my 24" low rise lift. looks like there is good clearence. I will update when the drivetrain is out later today..

david

 

Looking forward to it David, and take some pics while you're at it.

 

Looking forward to watching your progress, I will be doing a 355 right behind you.

 

Had the motor out by noon today. Lowered it onto a set of rolling dollies from Harbour Freight. A few observations for the low rise lift user.

The lift I have is a Snap-On, Platform style low rise lift. 24" of travel hight. ( see attached )

1. Make sure the front mount plates are clear of the edge of the lift when lifting the body off. We had to shift te body slightly to clear the engine subframe.

2. These lifts are not designed to be flattened completely with weight on them. This may not allow the interal pressure to release from raise to lower...Big scare..Had the car on the lift, no wheels and lowered completely but could not get the lift to raise. Had to creatively jack an even lower car to relieve the pressure on the lift. Added a few blocks under the main piston preventing itfrom lowering the last few inches.

3. Removed the oil sump for added clearence.

I am helping a fellow Fchat member ( captnglen ) save some coin on his belt service. He has taken several pics along the way. I believe he will be starting his own thread.

David
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