I will be swapping engines in a couple weeks and I'm looking for the best way to do so. I would prefer not to pull the transmission out with the engine. I'm wondering if I could remove the front mounts and tranny mounts, drop everything down, unbolt the tranny and leave it on the floor, and then pull the engine up through the top. Would this work? Other suggestions?

 

Why wouldnt you just leave the trans attached to the engine. You can pull it all from the top. You are just asking for more work. Once the engine is out the trans will be much easier to remove.

 

I think it would be really difficult, if possible at all, to pull the engine/tranny out as 1 assembly. There really isn't much clearance to take it out the engine bay. You might be able to accomplish this, if you have a lift, by dropping the entire front subframe/tranny/engine and lifting the car.

I dropped the tranny first. You can loosen the front subframe bolts and drop the engine 3 to 4" and it will still be supported. That will allow you access to the top 2 bolts holding the tranny to the block. Once the tranny is clear, it's fairly simple to pull the engine out.

 

Clutch install, might be some helpful tips here: https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=384133

 

i just pulled my engine and swapped it out. remove the engine with the tranny together, it is possible and its not as hard as everyone makes it sound, they both come out through the top with no problem. its so much easier to take the tranny off outside of the car.

 

^through the top is easy, but if ur going through the top, make sure ur car is high off the ground mine wasnt high enuff ...

but i hear just dropping it from the bottom is way easier (engine+tranny)

 

For me (8 s2k engine installs so far) the easiest, fastest, and cleanest way is pull the trans out the bottom per the manual (2 hrs) and the engine out from the top, harness unplugged fron the ECU, rad hoses attached. so simple:

 

[QUOTE=Billman250,Mar 18 2008, 05:21 PM] For me (8 s2k engine installs so far) the easiest, fastest, and cleanest way is pull the trans out the bottom per the manual (2 hrs) and the engine out from the top, harness unplugged fron the ECU, rad hoses attached. so simple:

 

Through the bottom attached to the whole subframe is easiest

 

i did the whole deal, engine and trans out the top, it sucked