What Heavy Equipment Will I Need to Do an Engine Swap?

[1993-VG30E-GXE]

Can you guys tell me what I would need ahead of time for the big costly stuff. Engine Crane, and Engine Stand, is that it? Do I need to buy some other sort of chain attachment that goes between the crane and engine?

[nismomaxx]

When I did the engine swap in my 240 all I used was a engine hoist, a craftsman jack, and a bunch of jackstands.

[AceofSpds]

Engine lift, a couple of floor jacks and jackstands are nice to have. A friend or 2 is always a big help too.

Yes you might want to get more chain to put onto the motor, but you really dont need a load equalizer for an fwd install.

[96blkonblkse]

You can get an engine sling. Basically a chain with a middle piece that can move to equalize the load. A load leveler is optional but can make things much easier.

You will need jackstands and an engine crane at a minimum. An engine stand makes things 1000x easier. Obviously you will need a floor jack too.

For the chain, get some thick chain, thick enough to where the hook of the engine crane will fit through the chain.

[1993-VG30E-GXE]

As for the Engine Balancer (Horizontal metal bar with 2 chains dangling on either end), I have a choice of either 18 INCH or 22 INCH.

Where do I measure the VG engine to get the correct size?

[Matt93SE]

the equalizer makes things easier, but you don't need it. I have one and wound up pulling it off when I do about half my engine swaps.

[sciff5]

Originally Posted by Matt93SE

the equalizer makes things easier, but you don't need it. I have one and wound up pulling it off when I do about half my engine swaps.

I didnt even use one when I put the ls1/t56 combo in the RX7. The rx7 chassis was already pretty high off the ground so it went in pretty easily. If the custom cradle had fit better I would have had the engine in, in 15 minutes.. but instead it took 5 trys untill I finally figured out I needed to stretch the mounts appart from each other. Trust me no need for a load leveler

[1993-VG30E-GXE]

Thanks guys - will take your advice, maybe i'll just save the money and exclude the balancer. Question -

1. Have you found any guides one the net to tell me the steps? I have a guy that's coming over that did it for his corvette before, but I'm concerned this is way more complicated.

2. Once I get it out of the car how do I attach it to the engine stand to work on removing the exhaust manifolds? It looks like it holds it sideways?

Basically, I need to remove all the exhaust manifold front & back studs, and I want to use the hoist instead of doing the work under the car. I want access to do the heating and probably rent a stick welder to weld nuts onto the studs to back them out once I remove the manifolds. I tried a stud remover tool that sort of grips around but I couldn't get it to work, I think it was SAE and it kept slipping for the header pipe flange studs.

[CapedCadaver]

Originally Posted by 1993-VG30E-GXE

Thanks guys - will take your advice, maybe i'll just save the money and exclude the balancer. Question -

1. Have you found any guides one the net to tell me the steps? I have a guy that's coming over that did it for his corvette before, but I'm concerned this is way more complicated.

2. Once I get it out of the car how do I attach it to the engine stand to work on removing the exhaust manifolds? It looks like it holds it sideways?

Basically, I need to remove all the exhaust manifold front & back studs, and I want to use the hoist instead of doing the work under the car. I want access to do the heating and probably rent a stick welder to weld nuts onto the studs to back them out once I remove the manifolds. I tried a stud remover tool that sort of grips around but I couldn't get it to work, I think it was SAE and it kept slipping for the header pipe flange studs.

I mounted mine onto the stand through the engine-to-tranny bolt holes.