finally it transpires that i've got to replace this release bearing myself, not a problem in itself....but

i have a weak back and no friends well no friends that are available when i'm going to be doing it.....i.e in the dark once the kids are in bed.....

so, any tips on safely moving the engine forward and back again....may have to hire an engine hoist, but don't really want to as it's going to be worked on 'as and when'

i was thinking high reach trolley jack and timber wedges??????

any tricks of the trade???

thanks alot

someone i was speaking to said they made there own engine hoiste our of a old landrover winch and some fabricating

i knew i shoudln't have chucked that Landie hoist away....

cheers....i think

chat with dad we got engine hoist. well mike simms has 1 you should be able to borrow that. where are you based i could possibly pop round some time and help pm me and we chat

Thanks alot for that. Funnily enough, I just got off the phone from Andy who has Mike round at his welding the Posty Van - i'm gonna try doing it with a trolley jack on the engine and a scissor jack on the box - i'll see how i go....but will keep your offer in mind. I'm the other side of Bristol to Andy, but only about a mile from the Bristol City ground...

cheers

why not jack the car up as high as you can get it, block the engine, lower the car, engine comes up car comes down

Darling, once the kids are in bed lift the engine out of the car, you know how bad my back gets.......

I'm not sure its much help, as I don't know how bad the back situation is... but I, a weak and feeble girl have lifted an engine out of a 2cv a couple of times. I wouldn't recommend it, even for people without back problems, but just so you can judge, it is doable on your own, so if you could get an extra pair of hands you'd be away!

Do you have a relative/friend/neighbour who'd lift with you for some mulled wine/shortbread/christmas choccies?

Ive done clutches with the engine on a trolley jack and swivelled to give a bit better access , dont know how much taking apart of the ami needs to happen but its always the bending over the wing that goes for mine rather than the big lift

sean

As a slight alternative to James' post above, jack up car and slip blocks under the wheels. Lower jack, add a block under the jack itself and repeat adding further blocks under the wheels until car is yea high off t'ground (you can't see, but I'm holding my hand about yea high off the floor...)

Then, as an alternative to 'blocking' the engine up from underneath, instead tie it up to the garage rafters or a made up hoist-frame above and leave it suspended as you undo all your jacking/wheel blocking... Possibly a tad safer and easier to do than placing blocks underneath?

If you are really clever, you could tie up the engine and gearbox individually and perform an engine split in mid air...

Of course, we'd need photos