O.K., I've got all the front sheet metal off (fenders, hood, underlying plastic thingies, fender supports, bumpers, you name it), on my 1996 Cavalier 2-door (base engine, standard trans).

Have stripped the motor ready to lift, but I can't see that there is enough room to disconnect the motor from the trans (5 speed) and swing it to the left and have the input shaft clear the clutch, etc., etc.

Is there a trick to removing the motor (first), then the trans? Is there a thread on this site that explains it a bit more in detail? Should I remove both in one piece, from either the top or the bottom.

BTW, if anyone wants any motor or trans parts for their 1996 Cavalier 2-door, let me know. You can anything I don't need for free, if you help me remove the motor.

Regards from Pickering, Ontario, Canada.

You could try removing the brake master cylinder and pulling the transmission with the engine. If you want to drop the trans out the bottom, removing the subframe makes it very easy.

Zach, thanks for the info.

BTW, I was in Gainesville last year attending the Star Racing Pro Stock Motorcycle class at the dragstrip. One of the guys that works for Frank Hawley at the track had a real nice early Vega (completely stock) that I think needs a small block transplant.

Regards.

remove the engine and trans in 1 assembly from the bottom .. will make you life easier in the long run. You can then disassemble them on the ground !!



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Hit 200 NA it broke once, Hit 213 it broke again,
Hitting 300 NA is further away than I thought.

check here, http://www.j-body.org/forums/read.php?f=2&i=298829&t=298829
I installed my engine and removed it from the bottom, i think on one of those pages, i talked about how i did it, top of the 2nd page i believe.

I have a floor jack, but not a lift or a friend. It looks like I'll be going at it from above.

Jeffery, thanks for the update.

Given that I'm stripping the car, I think I'll remove the intake, head, brake booster, etc., then pull the motor from the top (on an angle to clear everything).

Not sure if I have to remove the front suspension to get the motor out, but I'm going to remove it anyway (which should give more room to drop the transmission side of the engine for clearance when I hoist it out).

Regards, thanks for taking the time to reply.

Given that I've removed everything from the front, including the bumpers, rad, rad support, etc., another option is to remove the front suspension, drop the engine and trans down to the floor, then roll it out the front of the car.

That way I would not have to jack the car up so high.

We'll see.