Hey all--
I've gone through all the steps listed in my Haynes manual to prep the engine for removal. Nothing seems to be holding the engine in but...

When I try to lift it out, it seems still mated with the tranny and won't come loose.

Anyone with insight with what might be wrong or something I missed?

Thanks in advance for your help.
Tom

 

What are the steps listed in the book, cant really tell you if you didn't do something if we don't know what you did.
-Johnboy

 

You didnt state what tranny you have. Check every for bolts still in the bell housing holding the tranny to the motor. If it is an auto: did you remove the torque converter bolts from the flex plate. Sometimes the aluminum housings will become seized on the locating pins on the back of the engine block making it difficult to pop loose from one another. A well placed pry bar will aid in loosing up the two from one another but be very careful that you have something to catch the tranny or that it is supported when you do this work. Make sure your engine mounts do not have the bolts still holding them to the frame of the truck as well.

 

If you have an auto, I was going to suggest the torque converter as well. It should slide apart, but if not, you can undo the bolts that hold it to the flex plate.

 

Do you have anything supporting the trans? Maybe binding as you lift. As above, a pry bar maybe needed to dislodge the bellhousing as the engine is pulled forward.

 

Did you get the motor out? What was holding it? I was thinking the dowels from the transmission to the motor. Maybe just a little pry bar action.

 

Hey all--
Thanks for all the replies and info. I won't get a chance to get back at it until Sunday. The Bronco is parked up at my brother's shop so I can't check it out right now.

I will let you know how it goes.

I think the culprit is going to turn out to be the torque converter . At least I hope it turns out to be that straightforward (and boneheaded).

Thanks.
Tom

 

I forgot about the torque converter bolts one time myself. Jerked it out of there and transmission fluid went everywhere. Now thats one of the first things I take loose. Hope thats your problem and it comes out for you. If not then you probably have a bolt left in the bellhousing.

 

Take extra care if you pull the converter with the motor. There is a seal inside it at the bottom of the splines that can easily be damaged when removing and installing the converter. If it gets damaged... no more seal to keep tranny fluid in the converter. Bad things happen after that. I prefer to remove the bolts and leave the converter on the tranny input shaft.

 

Hey all--
Got the engine out. The torque converter bolts AND one of the starter bolts was the hold up. I feel like a knucklehead for such and "easy" solution to the problem.

At least we got it out and the Bronco is none the worse for it. Now we get to clean up the new-er engine, replace some parts and drop it in to get'er running.

Thanks to everyone who gave a suggestion. It is awesome to have such a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.

Tom

 

One word of warning, be completely sure you know exactly how to put the torque converter back on correctly, or you'll damage it and possibly the trans and have to have the whole thing rebuilt.

When you put them back together, put the torque converter on the transmission first (even though it's easier to bolt it to the engine while it's out.) Once it's on the transmission, rotate it until it catches and slides in further. Repeat, repeat. I think it's about 3 different rotation/slides until it's in place.

After the torque converter is correctly in place, the engine and transmission should just mate right up without a single bit of force or hassle. If you have to pull them together with bolts and such, something is wrong and you should stop immediately. Then, once the engine and tranny are bolted together, you can bolt the torque converter to the flywheel through the small space provided.

I almost learned this the hard way (I DID force them together and somehow through a miracle didn't damage anything). If your engine and transmission don't effortlessly slide all the way together to where you can't fit a piece of paper between them, something isn't lined up and forcing it can cost you $100s in repairs.

Not to make you nervous or anything, it's very easy to do it correctly. You just have to be sure you know how.

 

Hello AB--
Thanks for the words of wisdom.

We didn't end up pulling the TC. Good info to know though.

I appreciate it.

Tom