Engine/box/subframe removal

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KevR
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Engine/box/subframe removal

Post by KevR »

I'm breaking my crashed estate and I was thinking of simply unbolting the front subframe, disconnecting the struts, (plus all cables, exhaust etc), then simply lifting the body up and leaving the whole front assembly in one lump 'til later.
Any reason why I shouldn't...?
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
citronut
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Post by citronut »

well the engine is not attached to the sub frame appart from by the lower stabaliser bush, as the engine and box mounts are hanging from the inner wings,

that is unless its an early 1.4 powerd unit which sitts on the sub frame,

regards malcolm
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Post by KevR »

Ah, ok... so all in all a pretty stupid idea then! :oops:

I'll just hoik it out the top with the JCB then.
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
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Re: Engine/box/subframe removal

Post by assembled »

I am considering to do the same as my two donors sits outside and I have no easy way o lifting the engine out.
Much like doing this:
Image
You can see that engine/transmission/subrame, front struts are all assembled prior going under the body.

I suppose I need to disconnect gear linkage (visible int the photo above), cooling system, hydraulic pipes to front struts, steering wheel, brake valve from inside (and leave hanging on pipes with sub-frame) electrics. What else should I consider? My idea is to support engine/sub-frame on the ground, undo engine mounts, sub-frame bolts and then lift the body upwards. Then the body goes away and I am left with all the goodies :)

Opinions of more experienced would be very appreciated. Especially of any pitfalls waiting for me.

P.S. happy New Year everyone :)
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mat_fenwick
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Re: Engine/box/subframe removal

Post by mat_fenwick »

Never done it this way, but it doesn't sound a daft idea. Avoids any messing with the front suspension apart from the strut tops, and no need to tilt the engine to remove.
Image

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Re: Engine/box/subframe removal

Post by themildbunch »

When Doc helped me swap my engine out he took the gearbox out first - it made the engine an easy straight lift out then, no tilting required... watch the height corrector though, very easy to damage...
I was amazed how light the manual box is - I could hold it from above quite easily..
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Re: Engine/box/subframe removal

Post by citronut »

if/when i need to take engine and box out of a BX, i always drop it out below, and yes this can be done with the front sub frame still in place,

regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special

no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
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Re: Engine/box/subframe removal

Post by assembled »

citronut wrote:if/when i need to take engine and box out of a BX, i always drop it out below, and yes this can be done with the front sub frame still in place,

regards malcolm
Thank you. I am aware of that, but what really interests me is whether removing engine together with sub-frame actually has any benefits. The car is in ground, unmovable and any work from underside not very pleasant.
I am thinking of putting a Euro pallet under everything, unbolt sub-frame, struts, engine mounts, cables, hoses and just raise the body. My goal is to remove all good stuff from the body and get rid of it.
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Re: Engine/box/subframe removal

Post by citronut »

assembled wrote:
citronut wrote:if/when i need to take engine and box out of a BX, i always drop it out below, and yes this can be done with the front sub frame still in place,

regards malcolm
Thank you. I am aware of that, but what really interests me is whether removing engine together with sub-frame actually has any benefits. The car is in ground, unmovable and any work from underside not very pleasant.
I am thinking of putting a Euro pallet under everything, unbolt sub-frame, struts, engine mounts, cables, hoses and just raise the body. My goal is to remove all good stuff from the body and get rid of it.
there's no reason why you could not do this, even though the only connection between the engine/box and the sub frame is the drive shafts,


regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special

no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
KevR
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Re: Engine/box/subframe removal

Post by KevR »

Rather belatedly...
I've done this a couple of times - either cutting the subframe in front of the rear mountings (when the frame was rusted out) or just unbolting it properly, then pulling the shell off over the top. Works a treat but as Malcolm says, the engine's only held to the subframe by the driveshafts so it's worth loosening the shaft nuts and the lower ball joints before you start (more difficult later) so that once you've got the shell out of the way it's easy to split the rest down into its component parts.

Wouldn't bother leaving the struts in place as they're so easy to disconnect from the hubs and will only get in the way as you lift the shell.
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
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