So I said to myself "Self, what you need is something complicated to do for the next couple months. You should buy this second car and sell chunks of it to people and keep what you need for your own car."
This was a bear of a job that took me a few days less than I thought it would. Still, no easy task here. The broken engine came out and a man bought it for $300. Success!
This is what it looks like before you start pulling all the stuff off. There is NOT a lot of room to work with here. There are 2 ways to remove the engine, lifting it out of the car, or lifting the car off of the engine. The second option is the preferred way to do it. Guess what way I'm NOT doing it...
Air intake has to come off with lots of ground wires and the ignition core, spark plug wires, and lots of other junk. Mostly this is to access the starter, whic his in the CENTER OF THE FREAKING ENGINE BLOCK. What drunk asshole engineer at GM thought that would be a good idea?
Zero clearence. It's a tight freaking job - and nobody should have to do it.
The starter goes in that big hole in the middle.
With the starter gone, I could disconnect the flywheel from the transmission, and then eventually the transmission from the engine.
There is a bracket that connects to this son of a bitchin' thing to the transmission that I had NO IDEA existed. Imagine my suprise when I finally started lifting the engine and the whole car started going into the air. Anyway, don't forget this little guy.
Aaannnnnndddd PRESTO! You too, can remove the Northstar from your cadillac using some simple hand tools, a freaking crane, foul language, and some kinves. After that, you might consider putting easter eggs in it, or lighting it on fire. I hate this engine. Enjoy.
Questions, comments, concerns?
Hey I read your blog and interesting how you remove the engine from the top instead of the recommend way. Do you happen to have more picture or procedure? Also what did you use as your guide, shop manual?
ReplyDeleteOne more thing, did you install another engine and is it running?
Yes. I'm going after a Northstar from the top too. This is high IQ behavior.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a High IQ endeavor but in my opinion an endeavor to be undertaken only if you are HIGH! I have taken one out by lifting the car off the cradle,the lazy thinking man's way to do it.
ReplyDeleteIt was a space issue mostly, and the Guy who wanted it wanted it without the rest of the drivetrain. I didn't want to deal with the wheels being separate to the car, I needed everything leftover to move in one piece.
ReplyDeleteHey there, just thought i'd throw my 2 cents in. In the past 4 months, I have pulled 5 Northstars (4 Gen 3's and a Gen 2) out through the top. Though it does seem like quite a task at first, after you do it a few times, its a breeze. My boss is the one who taught me how to do them like this and he has done about 15 in this manner in his garage at home for some extra money. I too hated Northstars at first but now I find myself praying for one to come to our shop w/ a blown head gasket haha You'll learn to love them
ReplyDeleteI don't see the A/C compressor attached to the engine in the last photo. Were you able to get the engine past the A/C lines without evacuating the refrigerant and removing components?
ReplyDeleteAlso, do you have a photo of the engine bay after removal of the engine?
I sure cold use the help on my north star. if you have time could you send me more info.. Joe
ReplyDeletejaggos200@yahoo.com
Joe - I would love to help but should warn you that I'm not a mechanic. I am a grad student in Physical Therapy. I don't know what anything is called. I just have a knack for taking things apart. What's your Q?
ReplyDeleteIf you're looking for more reliable info I suggest signing up for an account at:
http://www.cadillacforums.com/
The forums there have saved me on more than one occasion.
In regards to the question about the AC Compressor - it's there, but the lines did have to be evacuated. Didn't matter on that engine because they were shot anyway. Just takin' stuff apart. The AC Compressor is the cylinder looking thing on the front passenger side of the engine. Can barely see it behind the manifold if you click on the last picture and blow it up. I can't ever imagine having to replace one of those. Holy smokes.
ReplyDeletehey i'm doing it right now, there are like 5 braket down back there, no fun getting the bolts out
ReplyDeleteGood luck sir! How long has it taken you (if you're not done yet)?
ReplyDeleteThanks man... I'm about to do this for the first time on 2, yes TWO, 2000 Devilles to make one good one.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember where the transmission to engine bolt nearest the driver's seat is located?
ReplyDeleteI noticed you removed the water pump housing/assembly, but then re-installed it to pull the motor.
Is that because you couldn't get to the transmission to engine bolts very easily?
Thxxx.
how long did it take
ReplyDeletehow long did it take you to do???
ReplyDeleteHow did you disconnect the exhaust??
ReplyDelete@Dro and Jeol: About 4 solid afternoons, 2 of them with a second pair of hands.
ReplyDeleteThe exhaust came of with a torch, unfortunately. There was a bolt way up high along the exhaust pipe connecting it to the engine that I didn't have the tools to reach and loosen at any angle. Quite frustrating. IF I HAD IT TO DO OVER: I'd leave the exhaust connected and disconnect it before the catalytic converter so that all you have is a skinny pipe. Pull the engine out with that connected, take it off when the whole thing is out.
Thank you for the advice about exhaust. I am in the process of removing the engine so I can replace the head gaskets and head bolts. Where is that bracket that connects to the transmission located? I'm sure I will have a few more questions as I go.
DeleteMannnn I don't even remember. I remember having to turn the flywheel manually with the intake manifold off and disconnecting for bolts from the flywheel. From the trans... I just can't remember. I might be in the same boat as you though, and have to go in and see why I'm getting plumes of smoke and low coolant warnings on cold starts. I'm thinking head gasket, but there's no coolant in the oil and I'm not overheating. Can't wait to find out.
ReplyDeleteThis, I'm pretty sure: http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/1200/nstarr.jpg
ReplyDeleteThis will give you an idea of the flywheel connection to the trans: http://pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=32412&start=0
Thanks man. I'll unscrew the four bolts holding the fly wheel to the torque converter and look for that bracket. I hope I find it.
ReplyDeleteMan I'm stuck, the engine just seems to be stuck to the transmission
ReplyDeleteIt has slid to the left as you start to.pull up. Have you tried that?
ReplyDeleteYa I can't get it to slide at all. It feels like it is still connected to the transmission.
ReplyDeleteThis will clear things up, did you pull the engine with or without the coolant crosover connected? Because I secured it back on after I pulled the transmission bolts.
ReplyDelete