Pulling the engine
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Senior User
Joined: May 2004
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Pulling the engine
Hey guys,
Let me start this by saying I have never messed around with fuel injection before. So if this sounds a little dumb, hear me out.
It's a 1989 FSB with the 302. It's leaking oil from every oriface it has. I have the transmission out as I just rebuilt it (and added a transgo kit) and I figured I would pull the engine out and replace all the gaskets and the front and rear main seals. I have pulled an engine or two in my day but they were all on older Chevy's and I had the help of my uncle so I didn't have to pay too much attention to the details. My question is how intimidated should a beginner be when pulling the engine out of one of these beasts? Is everything basically idiot proof?
Oh, here's a dumb question, does the fuel injected 302 have an intake gasket from the factory? I know it's going to have to come off even if I don't pull the engine because I'll have to get to the passenger side valve cover. I'd love to meet the person that thought up that intake...
Thanks for all the help up to this point, and hopefully with this one as well.
Let me start this by saying I have never messed around with fuel injection before. So if this sounds a little dumb, hear me out.
It's a 1989 FSB with the 302. It's leaking oil from every oriface it has. I have the transmission out as I just rebuilt it (and added a transgo kit) and I figured I would pull the engine out and replace all the gaskets and the front and rear main seals. I have pulled an engine or two in my day but they were all on older Chevy's and I had the help of my uncle so I didn't have to pay too much attention to the details. My question is how intimidated should a beginner be when pulling the engine out of one of these beasts? Is everything basically idiot proof?
Oh, here's a dumb question, does the fuel injected 302 have an intake gasket from the factory? I know it's going to have to come off even if I don't pull the engine because I'll have to get to the passenger side valve cover. I'd love to meet the person that thought up that intake...
Thanks for all the help up to this point, and hopefully with this one as well.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
You're in luck.. these motors are idiot(chevy guy) proof.
Just bustin' your chops....
Yes the intake manifold has a gasket between the upper and lower sections so you'll want a replacement. You'll want to check and see what gaskets you have on the oil pan and valve covers, if it has the steel core rubber coated gaskets you're in luck because these don't wear out or crush, all you should need to do is re-torque them. If you have cork gaskets here then I recommend you buy the rubber/steel replacements from Ford.. these things do not leak ever unless the bolts fall out.
You'll need a fuel line tool to disconnect it, but as stated the sensor connectors are all unique to one another so there's no way to mix them up. Besides that the wiring is all wrapped in a harness so it will want to go on a certain way. You may want to leave the harness on the motor and just disconnect the big connectors where it attaches to the main harness over on the driver's side inner fender. Also don't forget the ground wires attached at various points on the block. Overall it's not as bad as it looks.
Just bustin' your chops....Yes the intake manifold has a gasket between the upper and lower sections so you'll want a replacement. You'll want to check and see what gaskets you have on the oil pan and valve covers, if it has the steel core rubber coated gaskets you're in luck because these don't wear out or crush, all you should need to do is re-torque them. If you have cork gaskets here then I recommend you buy the rubber/steel replacements from Ford.. these things do not leak ever unless the bolts fall out.
You'll need a fuel line tool to disconnect it, but as stated the sensor connectors are all unique to one another so there's no way to mix them up. Besides that the wiring is all wrapped in a harness so it will want to go on a certain way. You may want to leave the harness on the motor and just disconnect the big connectors where it attaches to the main harness over on the driver's side inner fender. Also don't forget the ground wires attached at various points on the block. Overall it's not as bad as it looks.
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Senior User
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Don't get me wrong, I'm a ford guy born and raised. My cousin and uncle are the Chevy guys. I drive Fords so I've never had to pull an engine in one before... :-) I tease my cousin and uncle pretty bad because they are always pulling engines and replacing things.
Thank you for the info, it's really helpful and I'm not as concerned about the whole task now. One question I do have in addition: Do I absolutely have to pull the engine to change the oil pump, or could it be done by simply raising the engine a bit?
Thank you for the info, it's really helpful and I'm not as concerned about the whole task now. One question I do have in addition: Do I absolutely have to pull the engine to change the oil pump, or could it be done by simply raising the engine a bit?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Yes you can change the oil pump without completely pulling the motor... but it's not pretty. The higher you can get it off the mounts the better, and if the tranny is out of the way even better still. You have to disconnect the pan and let it drop onto the cross member, then reach in and unbolt the pump and drop it in the pan, and then you can remove both. Putting it back is where it gets ugly, you have to make sure you get the pump driveshaft and gasket in place while holding it up inside the pan and bolt it on.. I think I'd rather be served warm beer and forced to watch 40 year old strippers.. but that's me.
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Warm beer and 40 year old strippers. Hmm. Now that was colorful. With the exception of my wife, most 40 year olds I know are not very pretty. :-) Okay, so I get the point. Looks like I'll be pulling the motor. :-) Thanks for the input.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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its pretty easy. just got done with one for an f-100. wost case scenario, get a chiltons manual, their chapter(S) on engine removal/ replacement was pretty good help, and when in doubt consult the all powerful ford forum gods.
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Thanks for all the help guys. I'll let you know if I hit a wall at any point and can't figure out how to get it back together. Thankfully I have a mechanically inclined mind and things usually come pretty easy for me.
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If you are anything like me......., what was I saying ? ..... Oh yeah, if you are anything like me.... ummmm..... oh yeah, you may forget where something goes between coming out and going in. I believe all the electrical connections are idiot proof, but there's always something you won't be sure of when you are putting it back together. I'd shoot a couple of pics of it and label anything that could get mixed up. These threads are full of people with problems where the PO forgot a ground wire.
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