Engine Removal

[Rising]

Okay I tried searching for this info but I didn't come up with anything.

I'm pulling the rabbits engine tomorrow/this week and I wanted some tips/advice.

I know the basics of "disconnect everything". And I have a copy of an mk2 Bentley manual.

But I was more curious about weather I should take the trans and engine out as one piece or just remove the engine? Out the bottom or out the top?

And would it make it easier to pull the head first since I'll probably be doing that once the engine is out?

And since this engine will be coming out and I have some opportunity are there any things I should do while its out? Maintenance or modifications?

Thanks!

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[theman53]

I believe this is a personal perference deal. I have never pulled an engine in a MK1, but in the MK2 I like pulling both at the same time. It doesn't matter either way for me, but I usally leave the head on. There are little spots to hook to for pulling the engine and I don't trust the old headbolts sticking out of the block as much as the bolted head.

On another forum they have a mk1 engine pull thread...
http://www.vwdieselparts.com/motori.htm

[steevz]

I second that. One piece is much easier/faster, also use the hooks on the head to lift the entire assembly.

[burn_your_money]

Don't disconnect the tranny. I did that once, what a waste of time.

On a MK1 if you are able to lift the car high enough I would definitely drop the engine.

[bbob203]

take off tranny mount and front mount and pull it straight up. if you have a charged ac system carefully twist the lines and compressor into the battery tray.

[hillfolk'r]

What the last 2 posts said....
mk1,get it high enuf,go out the bottom,as an assembly
on a mk2 thats what my dad did to ol sooty,removed the front rad support,moved the charged ac mess to the side,and up and out.as an assembly
itll take 15 mins to pull the trans while its in the air.better than 45 mins in the car.....
hey i also like to get some blown out outer cv joints and put em back and tighten the nut...i remember the european car article years ago.
basically: if you dont put some stubs back,no the wheel wont fall off or somethin like that,but give it 15-20k miles and you will get a rumbly bearing.
thats if you have to put the car back on the ground and move it.
if you can leave it in the air dont sweat it

[CrazyAndy]

Same as last 2 posts.  If you can lift it up high enough, out the bottom, throught the d/s wheel well if you have to.  My jack stands dodn't go high enough, so I yanked the head. 
I'd definitely recommend going out the top if you can rent/borrow a hoist, though.  Stupid Advance gave me one box of the hoist ckd kit and I didn't realise it until later. 

[8v-of-fury]

I have done my last.. 4 or 5? engine pulls using a hoist at the shop my brother works at.. mk1, mk2 and mk3's.. I am never using a cherry picker again!

[vwroadkill]

so did you get the engine out. was wondering.. I take them out the top, goes quicker. even with an engine hoist. I just remove all the bolts from the axles, shifter, exhaust. tape and label all that isnt obvious.
remove the hoses.. then hook up your chain.to the hoist, give it a small amount of slack...with tension on chain, engine having a slight upward tug. remove all engine mount bolts. and hoist away.
hope this helps, good luck

[Rising]

Hey thanks everyone for the advice. I was planning to start this project a couple days ago but life got in the way as usual. : (

As it is I don't have anyway to get my hands on a hoist so I'm guessing its going to be going out the bottom. I wish I knew somebody nearby.. anyway it looks like at this rate it might be next week before I can start this build. Might have a little bit of time tomorrow to label and disconnect some things. But I think lll need an extra body around to drop the motor out.

I'm going to go pick up a new td block and head this weekend

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[ORCoaster]

If you plan on dropping it out the bottom then drive it up on ramps and get the extra lift you will need to clear the car later.  I have heard and seen the engine on the ground and lift the car up and drag the engine out from under it.  Once all the weight is on the ground that front end is really light in comparison.  

I just did the transmission out of the car a couple of weeks ago and I remember the Bentley suggesting that both the engine and tranny come out as a unit if you had more than just the clutch work to do.  If the car isn't A/C then you just have to worry about a few connections for the electric, fuel and water systems.  Pretty simple actually.  That is the reason I love that 81 Rabbit over any other high mileage over priced Hybrid.

[Rising]

  If the car isn't A/C then you just have to worry about a few connections for the electric, fuel and water systems.  Pretty simple actually.  That is the reason I love that 81 Rabbit over any other high mileage over price Hybrid.

So so true! Yep! No a/c here... which is a blessing and a curse. Virginia gets sticky and gross in the summers. Not actually that hot. Just humid and oppressive.

 I have some electrical connections I need to sort out anyway. So this will be a good opportunity. And to go ahead and clean up the engine bay.

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[rs899]

Out the bottom is easy.  If you don't get the car high enough you can tilt the engine back and still drag it out.

If you are going to be doing suspension work an easy out way is to unbolt the struts at the top, hang the calipers, unbolt the tie rod ends  and remove the bolts on the lower control arms.  Then everything drops as a unit.

[CRSMP5]

not in a mk1....

top vs bottom............ easy... hows the exhaust look? out bottom down pipe in way... top never is....

only mk1 i drop out bottom is autotragic.. rest from top...

[Rising]

not in a mk1....

top vs bottom............ easy... hows the exhaust look? out bottom down pipe in way... top never is....

only mk1 i drop out bottom is autotragic.. rest from top...

I just had an idea about this... buy cheap engine hoist on Craigslist and then sell it afterwards? = 0 or very low dollar rental? Haha.

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