If you have removed a Maxima's engine before, did you take it out through the top or bottom? What equipment did you use?

I'm going to remove an engine in a 1996 model I bought and have not decided which way to go. I'll be borrowing or purchasing equipment (cherry picker, transmission jack or something else) to get the job done so I need some experienced opinions to know the best way to do this. Presently, all I have is a nice floor jack and jack stands.

I have already read the Haynes manual and I don't have the equipment that is probably listed in the FSM so spare me those details. I need hands on experienced DIY opinions to get started.

Thanks!

 

I pulled mine out through the top at an angle (front up), you'll see the appropriate angle you will need. All I had was an engine hoist and a floor jack.

 

To me the answer is simple - down & out the botttom.

However this method requires the car to be up fairly high off the ground. Say, high enough to drag the old engine out and reinstall the new one. Very simple with a 2-post lift, but jackstands must be really tall to accomplish this.

If you don't have a lift, then out the top will work just fine.

 

I dropped mine out the bottom cause i didn't want to remove the hood, u'll need a picker to lift the car up high enough. u'll also need to raise the rear tires to keep your exhaust from hitting, I put my front rims under my rear tires cuz i didn't trust jacks with front elevated. Used a trans jack to support and drop.[B]Be very carefull on drop and install[B] u only have mayb 2 inches to play with on a sides except in the rad region - good luck.

 

Your gonna need a;

wrench
Extensions
sockets: 10mm,12mm,14mm,16mm, 17mm and anything in between
jackstands
cherry picker (hoist)
Electric drill (helps alot)
Air Gun (helps even more)

probably missing a tool or two.. but we took out the engine first from the top... then the tranny... when we placed everything back.. we put back the motor w/tranny included thru the top again.

Good luck aligning the motor back on the motor mounts... get some help

 

i've pulled a bunch of them out the top. never done it out the bottom because I don't have access to a lift.

 

I've prcurred a "Cherry Picker" and I have a 900lb capacity furniture dolly and a floor jack. I really want to drop the assembly out the bottom to keep from removing the hood, but it does not seem like it will work out as I think through it.

Right now, it appears I'm going to drop the transmision out the bottom and the pull the motor out the top. The hood has to come off unless you guys have a maraculus idea.

Bump...Thanks,

 

What is the big deal in removing the hood? It takes 5 minutes max. I have removed mine atleast 3 times by myself and have never had a problem.

1. If you are short, do this before jacking up the car.
2. Put some fender covers down so you do not scratch any paint.
3. Disconnect your washer hose line.
4. Undo the four hinge bracket bolts. Take the bottom ones out and leave the top ones in a couple of threads.
5. Prop the hood up and pop off the two gas springs.
6. Lay a 2x4 or something else that will not scratch the paint across the engine bay. This just holds the hood up high enough so you can get your fingers underneath when it comes time to lift the hood off.
7. Lower the hood.
8. Lift the corners of the hood at the windshield end and remove the two remaining partially unthreaded bolts.
9. Standing in front of car, grab the hood at the middle on both sides and lift straight up.

10. Installation is just the reverse.

 

... removing the hood requires undoing 4 bolts and 2 nuts and takes all of about 3 minutes...

 

Big I replied to you PM, the guys are right it's only four bolt and far easier as far as balancing the motor, just make sure you mark the hood for proper allignment on install.

 

i would pull through the top, mark hood but it will self mark by bolts, that mount the hood hinge. BE SURE TO SAND THE MOTOR MATING SURFACE TO TRANSMISSION, AND THE TRANSMISSION MATING SURFACE. The factory ground will be broke when you seperate the two. THEN COMES THE HARD TO START PROBLEM. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the help...I didn't wan't to take the hood off because I work by myself most of the time. I got some help yesterday and took the hood off...dropped the transmission out the bottom...took the motor out the top.

I'll be shopping for a good motor next week.

Thanks again!