I finally had time to pull my engine today and it wasn't as hard as expected.

I think the hardest part was dealing with the engine wiring harness and it's old brittle connectors. when it comes to the engine wiring it's also best to disconnect the rear bank harness from the main harness and leave it on the engine. I also just unbolted brackets that some of the wires looms clipped on to.

with the transmission already out, radiator assembly removed, compressor hung carefully, Y-pipe, and oil filter with cooler assembly out I had plenty of space to lift the engine right out without removing the hood or center beam.

the big mistake that I made was not removing the heater hoses from the firewall. the heater core has plastic fittings that go from the core out to the hose and I broke the plastic fittings 😕😕



I had to extend the engine lift arm past it's furthest adjustment hole and use a chain, hook, long bolt, and nut to keep the arm in place. luckily it didn't budge but it sucks that it cost me about $41 worth of hardware from Lowe's. I could have drilled a new hole but I didn't have my drill here at home.

had to jack up the passenger side to clear the passenger side lower control arm that was blocking the engine lift leg under the car.

 

Too late now as you already broke them but next time pull the heater hoses from the engine and tuck them behind the ac line. Try not to even look at the heater core ends or they'll break.

 

I had it disconnected the hose from the engine but not the firewall..

 

Love the visual documentation, what’s the overall plan here?

 

mainly get get more power and spend less money on oil with my daily driver.

my old engine was still running great at 330,XXX miles but I came across a good deal on a decent mileage (102,000 miles) 2014 Maxima engine with 6 months warranty. . once I get it running I'm sending the ECU out to Nisformance again for a re flash.

only performance parts carrying over from the old engine is the JWT flywheel, 4th gen exhaust manifold+warpspeed Y and 2J racing underdrive pulley. also picked up lighter alternator pulley and power steering underdrive pulley... I had 3" exhaust put in 2 weeks ago before the throw out bearing went bad 2 days later.

 

You can cut the hole larger and replace the plastic trash. For cars where that's not possible I've seen metal fittings glued in.