So I'm getting ready to rebuild my 1950 248 CI STR 8 - 3 speed. Since I have never pulled an engine out of anything, I'm hoping that I can get some free advice before I screw things up. I know Scotch has a bunch of ideas on building one up...but first I need to get it out. Looks like it weights 800 pounds. I do have a 2 ton hoist and hopefully a good stand. Help! Thanks! Gary
Okay, I'll ask the obvious questions... Are you're going to pull out just the engine or bring the ****** with it? Have you removed the dog-house (front end) or taken off the hood? For starters...disconnectin all wires, hoses and linkage. Another usefully tip is draining the radiator and clamping of the gasline. Either way I'd suggest removing the radiator, this will give you more room The straight eights tend to rock forward after the engine mounts are removed and its on those chains. Once you have everything out of the way have a friend help you guide that engine out. Good luck and post pictures of your progress.
I'm planning on front end ectamy. The hood is easy of course. Fenders, grill, all of the stuff. Should I try to pull it out with the trans intact? I was thinking that it would be better to pull the trans out first. I have a lift in my garage, but not a good trans jack. I guess there's a bit of work with the torque tube. Gary
if you're going to be doing most of the work by yourself i'd get a digital camera if you don't have one, or a disposable and take lots of pics. label everything. on my first engine pull i used freezer bags and some masking tape and labled all nuts and bolts.
The dog-house can be removed as one piece with or without the grill. You should be able to get to the bolts from the under side. Here's a old in-process picture of my 1950 Pontiac, with the dog house off. As for keeping the ****** on?! I've done it both ways...it real depends how extensive of a rebuild you're planning. I'd suggest taking it out all together. Its a lot easy in the long run... Mark eveything and take pictures before undoing anything! The 3-speed trannies are pretty simple to work with and you're probably should replace the clutch plate and put pressure seals at both ends of the ******. The rest is up to you...
HAven't pulled a straight 8 however just pulled a mopar flat 6, about 700 lbs with the bell housing but with the ****** removed. I would suggest clearing all the front sheet metal if you are going to do a with ****** pull. I left mine on and the angle on the leveler was quite accute, even with just the bell housing attached. With the dog house off it isn't an issue. One of the things that is neat about the mopars is that there is a section of center floor that is removeable that makes access to ****** linkage and bell housing bolts, and rear motor mounts easy. Perhaps the the Buick has the same convenience. One important item I overlooked is the cinch bolt on the extended boom of the engine hoist. Had it high and sharply angled to pull the lump over the grill ***embly, when the bolt slipped and the entension telescoped back down. Had to let the air out of the tires to gain enough clearence to keep from messing up the body work. Any way go slow and careful and makesure all wires and lines are disconnected before you atart jacking, also this stuff is easier to see and get at with the sheet metal removed. Take lots of reference pics if yer putting the lump back in. Good luck.
Thanks for the input. I didn't think you could pull the dog house as one piece. I see that the somewhere back 25 years ago when the car was painted with spray cans, someone bondoed the rocker and right front fender together. I'm sure this will be fun to remove. Gary
I can tell non of you have ever worked on a Buick in this manner. If its a '50 you're working on, you do NOT need to pull the front clip. Jsut take out the radiator and possibly the "core support" holding the rad. Your car has a torque tube or enclosed driveshaft. You cannot easily remove the trans while it is in the car. Pull the motor and trans together. There will be four or six bolts holding the torque tube to the torque ball on the back of the trans. There should be one mount on the rear of the trans, two bolts or remove the crossmember completely. Remove the coolant hoses from the trans, disconnect all wires, dont break the manifold taking the exh pipe off. The front mounts are only held down by two nuts on each side, take that engine and trans weight approx 800lbs so get a helper if you can. use a jack under the trans with a large 2x4 to support it, dont dent anyhting. Hooking the chain up is a whole other story and I'll let you tackle that one- cant describe it other than its a ***** of trial and error.
I took mine out of my 53 with the front end in tact but taking the front end apart is probably not a bad idea, you could clean things up, paint the engine bay, etc. I took out the ****** separately.The trans is not very heavy, only about 50 pounds. It might be easier to just have a buddy stand in the engine bay holding it by the input shaft while you unbolt it from under the car, thats what i did anyway. Make sure you disconnect the speedo cable when you pull the trans, it's easy to miss on this peticular trans. If you cant get to it just disconnect it at the speedometer and let the trans down enough that you can disconnect it from the trans.
You're right you don't have to remove the front clip. It was only a suggestion. After all it depends on much of a rebuild or resto someone is planning. For the record I've pulled several of these straight eights and sixs out of Buicks, Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs with and without removing the front clip. I'm doing a custom build up on my '50 Pontiac, so removing the front clip made since to me.
Doug: Now you can see why I'm asking all of these questions. No way I wouldl put a small block Chevy in this car. Actually, I wanted to put a 455 in. But, I think this car is more for just playin around. Gary
Gary, Are you going to keep this motor stock or modify it?!? Does your original Buick motor look like this? Are you going to do the rebuild? Or hand it over to some engine shop? Sorry for all the question...but us inliners just gotta know!?!
I pulled mine out with a chain hoist attached to the head bolts, it's a convienient place to pull from, but the head bolts will bend. If you plan to reuse the head bolts go buy two similar bolts to use in thier place.
Biz Mon: I'd like to do a little to add some juice. Right now it's probably going to a big deal just to get the thing out. I do want to do the rebuild myself. The engine looks great on the outside since the last previous owner did a lot of painting, etc. Starts fast and runs ok. But, the insides are yuck. And it leaks everywhere. Can't wait to see what's really inside. Gary
Gary, If you don't already the 1950 Buick Shop Manual?!? I'd suggest find one... If you don't have a local place to get one? Send me a PM and I'll send you the number of guy that deals in old car manuals.
Biz-Mon: Thanks. I have two. One to get greasy and what to look at read in bed! Glenn: I can't tell where you have the hoist chain bolted in your pic. How did you hook that up? Gary
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