K-Member Removal

[pb24]

Has anybody removed the K-member with the engine still in the car. Whats the best way to support the engine.

[Nacho-RT74]

with blocks on tranny belhousing and maybe some on balancing damper once you removed the K member to share weight

[Steve P.]

I have used a long wooden dolly on wheels. You can shim from the dolly with 2 x 4's and either jack the body up with floor jacks or a cherry picker with the front bumper removed. I used a piece of steel pipe as a spreader bar so to not put a twist on the frame horns.

It's much easier with a lift...     They make fixtures for doing just this, but for a one time deal they are very expensive.

[daytonalo]

Bottle rockets !!!!!!!!!!!!

[deputycrawford]

I would like to watch a video of that being done. (Not the bottle rockets). I have pulled mine multiple times and just separate it from the trans and support the trans. It is not fun to unbolt the mounts from the block so I can pull it. Solid mounts don't move....Oh, tranmission support group will be next Thursday night at 7:00 P.M. 


I have always wanted to use that pitty avatar.

[TylerCharger69]

I'd say just a cherry picker engine hoist will support the engine while you unbolt the "K" member....But if it's going to be removed for a while,  I'd use jackstands to support the engine  (not on the oil pans...and not on the balancer either)  in case the hoist fails.  Support it at the motor mounts after the member is removed.  I'ts not good to keep those hoists on a load for a long period of time anyway.  A third jackstand at the tranny wouldn't hurt either  just for s**ts and giggles

[Steve P.]

I'm sorry PB. I read your question wrong. I thought you were asking about removing the engine WITH the K-member!!   Sorry about that..

You can pull your motor mount bolts and slightly lift the motor with a cherry picker. and like Tyler said, you should support the engine if it's to be hanging long. I have a 2 x 4 that I cut down to set under my cherry pickers arm. I sometimes have to stop working at the drop of a hat and I don't like to leave anything to chance. A piece of pipe of a healthy 2 x 4 set between the lifting arm and the ground should work well for you. 

Sorry for my goof..

[pb24]

Could I attach the cherry picker to the exhaust manifolds

[BrianShaughnessy]

I changed out a K on my Trans Am  1.5 years ago after it went in the ditch on an icy road.   I used my engine yanking come-along from a chain around the main garage beams to lift the engine a bit and support it.     I had the front of the car up on large jackstands and lowered / raised the K with my big floor jack.

[daytonalo]

Its less work to let engine and trans drop out the bottom . And then you can detail everyting , just my two cents .