Can I remove eng & trans from ABOVE or BELOW the frame?

[94Griff500]

'94 Griff 500 pre-serp & T5: can I drop the eng & trans from UNDER the car versus lifting the eng & trans UP & out?
I'm planning on doing top hat liners once the eng & trans are out.

Asking because I have a 4 post car storage lift and wondering if it's easier to do one way or the other to remove the eng & trans out as an assembly?
I could use the lift to lift the car itself up & 0ver / off the eng & trans if that's an easier approach given I have the 4 post lift....
OR
I also have a floor eng lift on dollies, but it looks like the lift arm might not be long / far enough over the eng when slid under the nose of the Griff given the eng is further back in the frame ...... or can I position the floor lift somehow on the SIDE of the Griff to get this done?

Advice and steps for the best way to do this???

As always, great advice & experience from this forum!
Doug (USA)

[Classic Chim]

No.
You can remove Body which makes lifting engine a lot easier but that’s a whole new game and not recommended unless your planning on outrigger or other chassis repairs

You have to lift engine up and out of the chassis.
You will be removing bonnet and the top chassis cross member in engine bay which simply unbolts then gives you just enough room to take both engine and box out in one but does require the engine to be slowly tilted to about 45d to avoid smaller cross bracing chassis tube to do so. You’ll notice the crank pulley wheel will foul on cross bracing bar which is why you slowly tilt the engine.
Your correct in assuming you’ll need a long reach engine hoist or similar.

[94Griff500]

Do I need to drop / remove the entire exhaust system, or just the front portion, or just undo the L&R manifolds at the Y-piece?
Does the Y-piece need to be removed ?

Also, do the eng mounts need to removed from the side of the block and stay mounted to the frame.... or just from the frame mount points and come out attached to the engine?

Same questions about what to undo at the 2 transmission mounts.....

Thxs for your advice!
Doug

[NicBowman]

Hi

If you are working on the engine it all has to come off eventually. I would take off the manifolds.

This sounds like a brave undertaking given the questions. Are you 100% sure your experience level matches the complexity? A question I ask myself all the time! Please don’t be offended.

Best


Nic

[EddieJT]

I successfully removed an MX5 engine and gearbox quite easily by just giving it a go. Hardest part was disconnecting so many lines and sensors. There are fewer on the RV8, so I dare say it'd be easier. Good luck. It's very satisfying!