Pulling the Engine thru the Front
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Forest Hill
Originally posted by burrelld
Well, I am a weekend warrior, and week nights too. I make my living as a business consultant, working mostly with computers, design and management.
I travel all over the United States, and when I'm in a location for two or three months on a project, I pick up a vehicle to pass my free time. I bought that 93 Aerostar at an auction here in Oklahoma City, and am now rebulding it.
At home in Nevada I have, licenced, insured and running...
1999 Mercury Sable Stationwagen
1994 Ford F-150 4X4
1998 Mitsubishi Diamante LS
1989 Honda CRX SI
In the process of being restored in Reno....
1951 XK-120 Jag Roadster
1966 Mustang Convertible
1968 Cadillac Eldorado
In Oklahoma City.. 1993 Ford Aerostar.
In the last 12 years I have done 5 frame up restorations, and I do all of my own repairs and maintainance on my four licenced vehicles. I use each one for a certain duty, aside from the Mercury Sable that my wife drives.
This Aerostar is the worse piece of engineering design that I'm ever come across. The best was a 1961 Volkswagen Bettle.
Well, I am a weekend warrior, and week nights too. I make my living as a business consultant, working mostly with computers, design and management.
I travel all over the United States, and when I'm in a location for two or three months on a project, I pick up a vehicle to pass my free time. I bought that 93 Aerostar at an auction here in Oklahoma City, and am now rebulding it.
At home in Nevada I have, licenced, insured and running...
1999 Mercury Sable Stationwagen
1994 Ford F-150 4X4
1998 Mitsubishi Diamante LS
1989 Honda CRX SI
In the process of being restored in Reno....
1951 XK-120 Jag Roadster
1966 Mustang Convertible
1968 Cadillac Eldorado
In Oklahoma City.. 1993 Ford Aerostar.
In the last 12 years I have done 5 frame up restorations, and I do all of my own repairs and maintainance on my four licenced vehicles. I use each one for a certain duty, aside from the Mercury Sable that my wife drives.
This Aerostar is the worse piece of engineering design that I'm ever come across. The best was a 1961 Volkswagen Bettle.
Like to see the stang when you get it done, wifes been wanting a 66 ragtop for years. Maybe I'll sell one of my Harleys and.... naaa! LOL!
New User
Joined: Oct 2003
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The Mustang Convertible is for my wife, and the Jag XK120 is for me. The Cad Eldo is just a big, interesting, powerful, comfortable front wheel drive car that one of my three grown daughters will most likely end up with.
I bought the Aerostar here in Oklahoma City to repair and then donate to a Indian child care center here in Oklahoma when I fly back to Nevada.
I bought the Aerostar here in Oklahoma City to repair and then donate to a Indian child care center here in Oklahoma when I fly back to Nevada.
New User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 20
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I would suggest that you purchase either a Haynes or Chilton repair manual.
But I suggest first that you look under the bonnet, (hood) for Americans, and see that everything has to be removed, and if possible, the entire front sheet metal, bumper cover and brace, grill, hood, radiator, fuel pump, air compressor, belts, wiring, hoses, intake manifold and fuel lines, valve covers, heads, etc. etc.
Then, after detatching the tranmission and the intake manifolds, you might, with three friends, a cherry picker, and a lot of luck, be able to remove the engine block through the top front of the vehicle.
Just my personal opinion.................
But I suggest first that you look under the bonnet, (hood) for Americans, and see that everything has to be removed, and if possible, the entire front sheet metal, bumper cover and brace, grill, hood, radiator, fuel pump, air compressor, belts, wiring, hoses, intake manifold and fuel lines, valve covers, heads, etc. etc.
Then, after detatching the tranmission and the intake manifolds, you might, with three friends, a cherry picker, and a lot of luck, be able to remove the engine block through the top front of the vehicle.
Just my personal opinion.................
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,452
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
I do have a Haynes manual but it only shows how to drop the engine and remove it from below. Anyway, it sounds like one would have to strip the engine down to the block to remove it through the front. Thanks for the reply.
Regards
Regards
New User
Joined: Oct 2003
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That is exactly what I was trying to imply. Removing the heads alone, after I spent many hours disasembling almost everything in the engine compartment just to get to them, is a very daunting task because of that very restrictive space.
If I had been at my home garage, and had really known just how bad that Aerostar set up was, I would have dropped the engine, per Haynes and Chilton, just to do the heads.
But since everything is taken apart anyway, I'm replacing or repairing the water pump, alternator, air compressor, power steering pump, radiator, fan clutch, spark plugs, distributer, hoses, belts, and injectors too.
Most of those parts have over 160,000 miles on them and I DO not wish to enter that compartment again once I finish replacing the heads and gaskets.
If I had been at my home garage, and had really known just how bad that Aerostar set up was, I would have dropped the engine, per Haynes and Chilton, just to do the heads.
But since everything is taken apart anyway, I'm replacing or repairing the water pump, alternator, air compressor, power steering pump, radiator, fan clutch, spark plugs, distributer, hoses, belts, and injectors too.
Most of those parts have over 160,000 miles on them and I DO not wish to enter that compartment again once I finish replacing the heads and gaskets.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,452
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
The difficulty for most home mechanics like us lies not in dropping the engine on the ground, but with lifting the van high enough to pull the engine out from under. I suspect that to bypass this problem we would have to do two things:
1) Drop the engine on the ground per the manuals.
2) With the improved clearance while the engine is on the ground, strip the engine down to the block, then pull it through the front.
I was hoping someone would have tried this and tell us whether or not it's worth the effort. My van has been extremely reliable so far even after 150,000 miles, so I'm very reluctant to sell it. I go camping with my wife and kids a lot, that's why I'm thinking about rebuilding the engine and the transmission just so I can be sure I won't be stranded in the middle of nowhere. Just by doing so, I may be violating the golden rule: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Regards,
1) Drop the engine on the ground per the manuals.
2) With the improved clearance while the engine is on the ground, strip the engine down to the block, then pull it through the front.
I was hoping someone would have tried this and tell us whether or not it's worth the effort. My van has been extremely reliable so far even after 150,000 miles, so I'm very reluctant to sell it. I go camping with my wife and kids a lot, that's why I'm thinking about rebuilding the engine and the transmission just so I can be sure I won't be stranded in the middle of nowhere. Just by doing so, I may be violating the golden rule: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Regards,
New User
Joined: Oct 2003
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That is why I said, "if I were at my home garage". But I'm in Oklahoma City lacking the equipment to life that van in the air and support it safely.
I also believe in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", but in the case of this job, since I've already pulled all those units out, through the top, and have to install them back in the same way, I'm rebuiding or replacing the parts that "might" need it because I don't want to go back in there again if and when they need it.
I also believe in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", but in the case of this job, since I've already pulled all those units out, through the top, and have to install them back in the same way, I'm rebuiding or replacing the parts that "might" need it because I don't want to go back in there again if and when they need it.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Orland USA
copper_90680
I am in the process of pulling the engine through the front.
But I'm taking it slow so I can remember how to put eveything back.
Also I want to make sure I let everyone know what I did when I write it here how I did.
Going to try and pull it tomorrow.
I am in the process of pulling the engine through the front.
But I'm taking it slow so I can remember how to put eveything back.
Also I want to make sure I let everyone know what I did when I write it here how I did.
Going to try and pull it tomorrow.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Orland USA
Still here all.
Have everything loose & opened up. All I have to do is undo the Motor mounts.
The cherry picker is all hooked up to the engine and ready to go.
I've had some things come up that has put a hold on me the last few days. I'm taking pictures so as others can see what must be done. Will give the address when I get them posted.
Also will write down what I did.
Have everything loose & opened up. All I have to do is undo the Motor mounts.
The cherry picker is all hooked up to the engine and ready to go.
I've had some things come up that has put a hold on me the last few days. I'm taking pictures so as others can see what must be done. Will give the address when I get them posted.
Also will write down what I did.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,041
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From: Orland USA
Ok Guys and Gals.
The engine is out and on the engine stand. The heads are pulled and going to order the rebuild kit.
Have got all the pictures took and now have to finish editing them. Will give you all a web address when I get them put up.
Also will write a step-by-step on how I took the engine out.
Oh and hoping a Happy Thanksgiving to you all........
The engine is out and on the engine stand. The heads are pulled and going to order the rebuild kit.
Have got all the pictures took and now have to finish editing them. Will give you all a web address when I get them put up.
Also will write a step-by-step on how I took the engine out.
Oh and hoping a Happy Thanksgiving to you all........
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,041
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From: Orland USA
OK Guys nad Gals........
It's here. How I took the engine out throught the front of my 89 Aerostar.
The web site is: http://home.inreach.com/jthill/aerostar/
It's here. How I took the engine out throught the front of my 89 Aerostar.
The web site is: http://home.inreach.com/jthill/aerostar/
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Joined: Feb 2004
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JTHILL24
A 3.0l engine can be pulled out the front, but you have to take off the upper intake, distributer and manifolds alternator, and air condition system, did it on a 92 aerostar 3.0l 194000 km. that way will clear but to put it back in it takes two people. in this case we used a backoe and a chain. however we did not remove the tranny after a job like that one. I think getting the tranny out with the motor attached is pretty impossible unless you have the front end way off the ground.
A 3.0l engine can be pulled out the front, but you have to take off the upper intake, distributer and manifolds alternator, and air condition system, did it on a 92 aerostar 3.0l 194000 km. that way will clear but to put it back in it takes two people. in this case we used a backoe and a chain. however we did not remove the tranny after a job like that one. I think getting the tranny out with the motor attached is pretty impossible unless you have the front end way off the ground.
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