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MG MGA - Engine removal made easy - I hope!

Some of you will be aware of my earlier posts on the Big Red Jacks scissor hoist - it looks like it is going to make the coupe engine removal for some remedial clutch repairs fairly easy. Problem in the past has been getting a regular engine hoist under the car - made easy now by lifting the car 300 mm off the ground.
Mike


Mike Ellsmore

GREEN cars should never need an engine removal. They are supposed to run forever as opposed to other colors.
LONG LIVE THE GREEN ONES.
DARNOC31

That’s not altogether true, I read someware that 137 percent of all the red MGA's ever made were still on the road
Vin Rafter

Mike

You made extra work for yourself. No need to remove the bonnet.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve,
I agree you can get the engine out without removing the bonnet but with a hoist and my ceiling height I have to be careful raising the car with bonnet up. Bonnets are very easy to remove and refit, just mark location with masking tape on the hinges, put an old towel at the back to protect body/bonnet and then pop it in the spare bed room while the boss is not looking - less hassle when out of the way completely!
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Mike

Good point. Last thing you need is a vertical bonnet crumpling against the ceiling when you raise the hoist!
Steve Gyles

Totally agree bonnet off every time, although it can be raised vertically by roping it from above. The latter can suddenly prove stupid just after you let the jack down to put the oil in or move it. It eliminates just one of those "if it can happen it will" moments, of which there will be many others anyway. My pet hate being the lead lamp wire which has a ****** life of its own!
Personally I just have axle stands under the car and take the front wheels off to clear the hoist wheels. Also the whole underside of the car is then free to release the propshaft, exhaust, clutch slave cylinder, bell housing bolts etc.
Pete
P N Tipping

Pete

I have never taken the bonnet off nor raised the car to remove the engine. I anchor the bonnet to the luggage rack, so all self contained and free to roll the car back and forth as necessary. With the way I work in my garage that is what I commonly do. I lift the engine just clear of the engine bay, then push the car back out of the way so that I can manoeuvre the engine hoist clear of the car underside. I can get the engine out in under 2 hours (getting older, probably longer these days). I believe Dominic lays claim to less than an hour. Removing the bonnet just adds to that time and, in my situation, is an unnecessary additional time consuming process.

As I said above I appreciate what Mike did. If you are going to raise the car substantially during the engine removal process then clearance with the ceiling is a consideration.

Steve

PS. Picture is from my old garage. Not had to do it yet in my new abode.


Steve Gyles

My record is actually 51 minutes and I just use a strap around the bonnet catch and the rear view mirror to hold the bonnet up and out of the way. I have a folding hoist and have no problems with ground clearance or in getting the hoist between the wheels.

I do all the stuff from above first, then jack the car up onto stands last to get all the bolts from below, then drop it back down on the floor to put the hoist in place and hoik the engine out. The engine hoist has a leveller too.

It is all a lot easier if you have the right tools. I use a 1/4 socket set and a stubby spanner set, air ratchet for other stuff including the radiator bolts and the exhaust manifold. Where I have to remove SUs instead of the Judson, I take them out as an assembly still on the inlet manifold.
dominic clancy

Nice to hear from you Dominic having met you at the Dog House recently. Seems we all have our own pet ways of doing the same thing then. I have to admit I do kind of take my time and enjoy putting the old girl right. After all it is our hobby...
Pete
P N Tipping

This thread was discussed between 02/12/2012 and 05/12/2012

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