Engine replacement

[wtd]

Has anyone here ever replaced an engine in a Cavalier before? I was given a 92 cavalier with a blown engine. I bought a service manual and it looks like the engine has to come out from the bottom, which means removing the front suspension.

I'm pretty mechanically inclined but looking at the service manual, I'm not sure this is a job I want to tackle. Anyone do this before?

Wayne

 

[keval85]

Replaced a 2.2 litre engine in a 95 pontiac sunfire a few years back,we took the engine out from the top.All done in about 4 hours

 

[TurboLuver]

Comes out top side. Super easy, you should have no problem.
Might want to make sure it's not the head gasket first, those engines are prone to headgasket failure on the front drivers side of the block and that can be fixed for about $15 and 45min of your time.

 

[wtd]

The engine is supposedly locked up because it was ran out of oil. I cant get it to turn over so thats probably what it is. The guy who gave it to me took it to two shops and both of them told him the same thing.

It would be great if the engine could come out from the top. I'm just wondering why the service manual is saying to take it out from the bottom? Thanks for the help.

Wayne

 

[m2200b]

Start looking for a used engine since they're pretty tough motors. Just be sure the donor turns over.

You'll have two top ends and the donors bottom end. If its a clutch I'd change it at the same time. Things I wish I'd replaced when I did this
to my Mazda - oil pump. Usually you do the timing belt and waterpump since the donor may have been dead awhile and the motor mounts as yours are usually cracked or old.

 

[MC5W20]

If you don't have a motor stand get one. Put your boneyard motor on the motor stand and do some of the "extra insurance" items before the motor goes in. Like questionable gaskets, oil pump, timing belt, etc. Give it a good cleaning. When your all done you should be able to sell the motor stand for break even or $10 loss.

 

[keval85]

WTD I didn,t have a service manual when we did the sunfire,we took off the hood, unbolted the transmission.,unhooked all the connections at the engine and lifted it of the engine bay with a rented engine hoist.Bought a used engine (2.2Litre) at a auto wreckers for $300.00 ended up selling the car to a co-worker and she drives it to this day.When your done you will have a good and cheap little car GOOD LUCK

 

[wtd]

Guys,
Thanks for all of the input. I have a used engine from the salvage yard already so that won't be a problem. The clutch is supposedly fairly new but I will look at it. I plan on replacing the water pump and possibly the oil pump on the used motor before I put it in. I think I will get an engine stand to put it on so I can clean it up and do some work to it. The engine I have uses a timing chain instead of a belt.

The used engine looks like its had some top end work done since the head is very clean compared to the rest of the engine and there is new silicone on the intake and exhaust manifolds. Hopefully it will be a decent engine.

Wayne