Quick question from thoes who may have done it in the past...

I am currently in the process of replacing my rack & pinion assembly, as well as installing a new oil pan gasket. For the gasket, it is essenssial to remove the crossmember, and hence, in essence, remove the support of the engine. I do not have a hoist to use to support it from above, and you cannot support it from below, when you have to remove the pan.

On the radiator side of the engine, toards the battery, is one lift mount, when the battery grounds to the block. Where can I SAFELY attach another achor point of the firewall side of the engine, preferably at the front of the engine, so I can support it, via a chain, from a heavy pipe layed across the fender wells? It needs to be easy to access, as well.

Any assistance is much appreciated. I didnt get a good chance to study it much, as I was more consumed with the removal of my P/S pump this weekend. I'd just rather save a little time, and see if anyone knows of an easy way...

 

Mine (three now) have rear engine hoist lugs attached to the rear cylinder head by the transaxle. It is pretty close to the brake master cylinder, but of course on the engine. A factory ground cable attaches to one of the two bolts that hold the lug on.

 

That is the only anchor point I have. I'm looking for another, safe place to attach a chain on the firewall side, toward the belts, to safely support the full weight of the engine, so I can safely remove the front crossmember...

 

For example,. I was looking at it this weekend, and although I didnt see anything, I'm positive there's a tapped hole on either the head or the block, where I could screw in an eye-bolt, and use that for a second anchor point. Using only one point, such as the one Nissan provided, will allow the engine to **** backwards at an angle, making it unsafe to work under.

Another option I was thinking about was use some of those ratcheting cargo holddowns, with 2" nylon webbing, and loop one of those under each motor mount. Does this sound reasonable? I don't want to risk running it under the crank pulley, and breaking the crank.