glynherron 9 Report post Posted May 28, 2011 Well guys, tomorrow is the day to lift out the engine/gearbox. I've bought a hoist, load leveler and an engine stand! So where do I attach the load leveler. I'm worried about putting strain on components and causing damage. Any photos or suggestions?? Cheers Glyn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andydclements 486 2 Vehicles Report post Posted May 29, 2011 I cannot think of anywhere suitable (strength not an issue, just access) for using chains directly. You could use a rope or two. One loop under the front of the engine one under the front of the transaxle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rocket63 136 1 Vehicles Report post Posted May 29, 2011 I used a load leveller on my Glynn.I secured one chain eye with a gearbox bolt into the mating face for the gearbox bell housing and wrapped the other end of the chain through a bracket at the front. I have attached some photos but is not very clear. But you can get the idea mate. Quote Caught between a rock and a hard place in a catch 22 situation, So its 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. Your damned if you do, but your damned if you don't so shut your cock!!!!!!!!!!! Lotus Espirt Turbo S3 Lotus Esprit S4 Lotus Elise S2 Sport 130 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky 2,071 Report post Posted May 29, 2011 Lordy, what a lovely sight. That really floats my boat. Quote British Ambassador to Florida, New York, Denmark and Newfoundland. And Sweden. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rocket63 136 1 Vehicles Report post Posted May 29, 2011 What my Engine floating in the air your Sparkyness? Quote Caught between a rock and a hard place in a catch 22 situation, So its 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. Your damned if you do, but your damned if you don't so shut your cock!!!!!!!!!!! Lotus Espirt Turbo S3 Lotus Esprit S4 Lotus Elise S2 Sport 130 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lotus4s 24 1 Vehicles Report post Posted May 29, 2011 IMHO, you guys are sure putting a lot of faith in the strength of a couple of relatively thin castings... Quote 1995 S4s Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
glynherron 9 Report post Posted May 29, 2011 Thanks guys and Paul for pics, but now I'm worried about the strength of the chains, although the unit is rated at 500kg!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rocket63 136 1 Vehicles Report post Posted May 29, 2011 IMHO, you guys are sure putting a lot of faith in the strength of a couple of relatively thin castings... Not all all. They are not thin, not even relatively. That's where the gearbox bolts on! Its not even thin by Chapman's standards. Quote Caught between a rock and a hard place in a catch 22 situation, So its 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. Your damned if you do, but your damned if you don't so shut your cock!!!!!!!!!!! Lotus Espirt Turbo S3 Lotus Esprit S4 Lotus Elise S2 Sport 130 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
glynherron 9 Report post Posted May 29, 2011 I was thinking of the chains not the bell housing...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rocket63 136 1 Vehicles Report post Posted May 29, 2011 Hah. Not your chains Glynn. I was referring to Mr Knowles.And your engine does not weigh half a metric tonne. Quote Caught between a rock and a hard place in a catch 22 situation, So its 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. Your damned if you do, but your damned if you don't so shut your cock!!!!!!!!!!! Lotus Espirt Turbo S3 Lotus Esprit S4 Lotus Elise S2 Sport 130 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky 2,071 Report post Posted May 29, 2011 Nuffin sexier than a Lotus lump dangling off a hoist. Well... Quote British Ambassador to Florida, New York, Denmark and Newfoundland. And Sweden. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simon350S 191 1 Vehicles Report post Posted May 29, 2011 Load levellers, chains.... Etc... What happened to the good old wrapping a rope around the engine and engine hoist? That's all I've ever used and as long as you are sensible how you rope you can easily adjust the level of the load when your lifting it using 1 hand. I think you will be hugely surprised at how easy it will be to manoeuvre. Good luck dude Quote Chunky Lover Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
glynherron 9 Report post Posted May 29, 2011 Well I'm two engine and gearbox mounts away.guess what I'm doing on bank holiday monday! Cheers guy, if I'm not too filthy I'll try to take some pics Glyn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lotus4s 24 1 Vehicles Report post Posted May 29, 2011 Paul, That bolt hole may be one that holds the gearbox on but it also has 8 or so other bolts helping it do the job. And the stress on the hole is in a totally different direction than what it was designed for when lifting it as opposed to holding the gearbox on. The casting is less than 3/8" of an inch thick in some areas. I would never consider even bolting the block to an engine stand with one or two bolts, much less lifting it out of the car. Again, this is just an opinion and I'm sure many have done it with 2 bolts and some chain, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Quote 1995 S4s Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rocket63 136 1 Vehicles Report post Posted May 30, 2011 Yup, its your opinion Jim. I am safe and not sorry, so all is well. Quote Caught between a rock and a hard place in a catch 22 situation, So its 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. Your damned if you do, but your damned if you don't so shut your cock!!!!!!!!!!! Lotus Espirt Turbo S3 Lotus Esprit S4 Lotus Elise S2 Sport 130 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
glynherron 9 Report post Posted June 11, 2011 Well. I've never been so worried, but the engine/gearbox is now out and on the floor Hard work when you're flying solo..... When I mount the engine to the engine stand, how much thread needs to go into the block? All of the engine/gearbox bolts are too short!! I'll get there in the end! Step by step....... Glyn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andydclements 486 2 Vehicles Report post Posted June 11, 2011 The starter ones will be of great use. Try and use as many with full thread engagement (based on the thread in the ali) as you can, . If you have to mark the bolts with a numbering sequence or length type and move them round such that all four or five of the engine stand attchment points all have bolts full thread engagement. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
glynherron 9 Report post Posted June 11, 2011 The starter ones will be of great use. Try and use as many with full thread engagement (based on the thread in the ali) as you can, . If you have to mark the bolts with a numbering sequence or length type and move them round such that all four or five of the engine stand attchment points all have bolts full thread engagement. Thanks Andy I wonder if threaded bar is the way forward? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andydclements 486 2 Vehicles Report post Posted June 11, 2011 Keep in mind a lot of threaded car that's easily accessed (B&Q etc) is not of a great tensile strenght so you can quite easily remove threads of the bar/ nut that way. One good point is that you are less lilely to strip the threads of the ali block that way. You only secure the engine to the stand with what, four bolts? You'll have at least four that will go through the stand, the casting and have enough thread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
glynherron 9 Report post Posted June 11, 2011 Keep in mind a lot of threaded car that's easily accessed (B&Q etc) is not of a great tensile strenght so you can quite easily remove threads of the bar/ nut that way. One good point is that you are less lilely to strip the threads of the ali block that way. You only secure the engine to the stand with what, four bolts? You'll have at least four that will go through the stand, the casting and have enough thread. That's my thinking - at least 4 studs that are full depth.... Any other comments................ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simon350S 191 1 Vehicles Report post Posted June 11, 2011 I went the B&Q route with studbar and some nuts. If your removing the sump try and make all the studs go into the block not the lower crank case Quote Chunky Lover Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
glynherron 9 Report post Posted June 11, 2011 Thanks Simon I didn't think of that! Any idea of the thread, M8? Cheers Glyn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simon350S 191 1 Vehicles Report post Posted June 12, 2011 Not sure on the size sorry. Just wander down with one of your engine/gearbox bolts and try a nut on them, you'll quickly find out which is the right size. I meant if your removing the crank not the sump! I'm a doofus at times! Quote Chunky Lover Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
glynherron 9 Report post Posted June 13, 2011 Ok, they're M10 and guess what... no bar in that size! So purchased some extra long bolts - just need to cut off their heads. Clean up job next....... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
glynherron 9 Report post Posted June 15, 2011 (edited) Ok, they're M10 and guess what... no bar in that size! So purchased some extra long bolts - just need to cut off their heads. Clean up job next....... OK, so engine is now mounted on the engine stand. I had to remove the rear crank seal housing first though. The button head screws were a pain though. All would not budge and ended up rounding the internal hex. I ended up using a dot punch to mark and then knock the screws loose. I thought that the exhaust was blowing due to 2 exhaust studs missing, but on cleaning up the manifold I have foound a hole, so better get saving for a new manifold. The studs look like stainless though, so I wonder if the manifold has been replaced at some time. How do I tell if its a SWLotus one?? The nuts were strange too. None would move so used the chisel tactic to crack them. But they seemed to be made of cast steel?? They came away in chuncks.... Photos are to follow..... Edited June 15, 2011 by glynherron Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
