Removing the Civic engine without removing the transmission

[TimK]

Hi All,

My company is "highly encouraging" us to take next week off so that
the financial numbers look better next quarter. That means I'd like
to start tearing into the Civic and possibly remove the engine. In
Bob Bath's instructions, he says to remove the engine without removing
the transmission. The Helms manual suggests taking out both at the
same time. In my experience with the Porsche 914 EV, taking both out
and mounting the electric motor outside the car is easier.
Any thoughts on the difficulty of removing the Civic engine without
touching the transmission?

Cheers,
Tim

[Jeremy Green]

I would say it depends on what other stuff you are planning on doing.
If you are wanting to clean out the engine bay and degrease everything
it would probably be easier to remove the whole thing as a unit. It's
pretty easy to just pull the whole engine. The downsides are that you
will have to empty and refill the transmission and you will have to
get the spring pin out that attaches the shift linkage to the
transmission. The pin can be difficult. I have had luck removing it
with a c-clamp, a bolt of the same size and a socket to go on the
backside to push the pin into.

If it were me I would remove the whole assembly. It's easier to mate
the motor up to the tranny out of the car and it would give you a
chance to clean out the engine bay more thoroughly.

My 2 cents...

-Jeremy

[Rob Connelly]

Tim,

I would agree with Jeremy that it is easier to deal with the whole thing as
a unit. Yes, the spring pin can take some effort, but that is about it.
You will want to have ready access to the tranny outside of the vehicle to
get the adaptor plate and motor assembled, so I think it is the best
approach. That is what I did for mine, and had no issues with it.

[Hondacrzy]

Tim
I agree that you should remove the engine and trans as a assembly. You
can do it the other way but I think It would be more trouble. I have
removed just the engine when working on customers cars, but I am also
using a hoist and can go up and down as much as I need. I also think
it will be easier to clean and assemble the electric motor to the
trans out of the vehicle. Some day my adaptor will show up for EA. My
Impusle 9 has been put off another couple weeks.UGGG.

Chris

[Bob Bath]

Honest to heavens, I wound up removing the tranny after all; mated the
motor/adapter plate to the tranny, and reinstalled everything (long
story about initial adapter plate). If you have a breaker bar, and
know how to swap CV axles and seals, you can take out motor and
transmission together, and take them apart to get at the flywheel etc.
after removal.
peace,