2.8L engine swap

[88z24]

So I'm in the process of taking out the stock engine in my 88 Cavalier and need to replace it with another one, one with significant less miles and that actually runs, and I was just wondering if it is possible to take just the engine out. I read in a Chiltons book or something and it says that I also need to remove the transaxle. Now I'm sure that most people know that a car that old and that has had very little means of loving, didn't have a very rust free life. So i'm a little weary on trying to unbolt and unscrew things that look as though they are going to just break off when I apply any amount of torque to them. Does anyone have a suggestion as to if there is a way for the engine to come out and nothing else?

1988 Cavalier Z24
220k+ miles
2.8L 5 speed m/t

Thank you
-Willi

[bszopi]

Yes, you can pull out the engine by itself. It is tight, but it will come out.

[88z24]

Would it just be a matter of me removing everything off of the belt side to make room for the engine to slide over then or are there other steps i might need to take first to get it outta there? I already have the power steering, alternator, and tensioner removed. i think just the a/c and crankshaft pulleys are still on.

[Superdave]

you should be able to pull off the starter and the inspection cover.. then unbolt the torque converter from the flexplate.. then out with the bellhousing bolts. the engine should have enough room to move over to the passenger side about 1" and then pull straight out the top.

[sharkey]

he has a manual tranny, as stated in his first post.

pulling just the engine out is easy with a 5 speed, getting it back in is the tough part. honestly for what it takes, id pull the tranny out with the motor and swap it to the new motor outside of the car. all you need to undo is the top tranny mount, dogbone, remove the axles and undo the shifter cables. get some good penetrating tube (i like wynns #5 spray foam, but liquid wrench works well too) and you shouldnt have an issue

[Superdave]

he has a manual tranny, as stated in his first post.

pulling just the engine out is easy with a 5 speed, getting it back in is the tough part. honestly for what it takes, id pull the tranny out with the motor and swap it to the new motor outside of the car. all you need to undo is the top tranny mount, dogbone, remove the axles and undo the shifter cables. get some good penetrating tube (i like wynns #5 spray foam, but liquid wrench works well too) and you shouldnt have an issue

lol

dunno why the hell i thought it was an auto


a can of PB Blaster will go a long ways on a rusty Jbody. But i agree, with a manual tranny it's easier to pull the engine/trans together. If you have a load leveler on your cherry picker it makes it alot easier.

[88z24]

So here are a few pictures I just took of the 'progress'... I made my own engine support out of some scrap metal we had laying around. Should work pretty good for me. I should probably throw some paint on them rusty areas in the engine bay when I get everything outta there.