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MG MGA - pulling engine

Is there any one archive site that best describes the process to remove the engine without removing the tranny?
Ray Ammeter

I assume you've a copy of the factory (or other) manual?

Google took me here:-

http://www.mgccnj.org/meshinggears/Meshing_GearsW_2004-05.pdf

If you don't have the manual, let me know off-line.

Derek Nicholson

Chuckle. The MG Series MGA Workshop Manual tells you to remove seats, carpet, floorboards and tunnel to remove engine and gearbox together. By now we should all know you don't have to do that, and that you can remove the engine by itself. Furthermore you also never have to disassemble the interior to remove the gearbox, except on very early production cars that did not have a removeable top cover on the tunnel.

To pull engine, drain and remove radiator, disconnect everything attached to the engine, and disconnect engine from gearbox. Remove valve cover and attach a 16 to 18 inch length of 1/4 inch log chain to the valve cover attachment studs using flat washers and hex nuts. Lift out engine with a roll away hoist, or lift engine straight up and roll the car out from underneath. For me working alone net time = 70 minutes (after plenty of practice).

The crankshaft pulley is a close fit and may scrape paint off the steerung rack housing if you're not careful. Do not catch the speedometer cable between the bellhousing and tunnel, as that would reduce vertical travel and cause more interference at the crank pulley. When installing engine, lift gearbox with a floor jack until the bellhousing hits top of tunnel. Also use the cheap plastic clutch alignment tool to center the clutch splines, and you should be able to align the splines in a minute or two to mate engine to gearbox.
Barney Gaylord

30 years after the fact, my dad still used swear words to describe the first time he pulled the engine out of the MGA, following the directions in the factory Workshop Manual. At the time, the car was no more than 4-5 years old, but even so, many (most?) of the floorboard screws had seized in place, and an engine rebuild ended up including fabrication of new floorboards.

He said that eventually after enough practice, he got to where he could have the engine out of the car and on the bench in about 20 minutes, sans hoist (I assume with a helper).
Del Rawlins

Barney,
Do I bolt the chain directly to the studs or do I bolt a piece of angle iron with apppropriate holes drilled to bolt it onto the studs? Then bolt the chain onto the angle iron. If I recall correctly,I noticed in one of your pictures on your website you used chain, but also used angle iron to bolt it onto the block to remove the engine.
My thought would be the chain will move somewhat and damage the threads on the studs.

BTW...I left the exhaust manifold attached to the header pipe in place in the engine compartment. Hoping I could save the cost of one gasket and the big headache of removing it without breaking off the nuts at the manifold to the header. We'll see if I need to remove it also to get the engine out.
Thanks for everyones reponse.

Ray
Ray Ammeter

Attach chain directly to the studs with flat washers and hex nuts (tight). I (and John Twist) have been doing it this way for decades, and never damage a thread. I just posted pictures here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/engine/be105.htm
Barney Gaylord

I always use spansets or a heavy duty rope wrapped around the front and back of the engine. I never liked the idea of using the valve cover studs since I don't know for a fact that they're rated hardware and the angle iron sideloads them a bit.

Ray, I'm betting that you'll have to remove that exhaust manifold. It's just too tight in there.

Mark
Mark

Mark I agree with you,when I pulled my engine out I took off the head 1st since it was coming apart anyway and put the chain to a head stud.However look here at part # 14,I guess the factory thought they were ok.http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29210
gary starr

This thread was discussed between 14/10/2006 and 15/10/2006

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.