Engine Removal With Hood On

[Robert Schles]

I'm pulling out the engine on my 64 and was wondering if it can be taken without removing the hood. I just had the engine rebuilt. After putting it in and firing it up, I discovered a bad wrist pin on one of the connecting rods. The first time I installed the engine, the hood alignment took more time than installing the engine. I'm trying to avoid the hood alignment pain this time around. 

[3ft7bqmb7dryo]

I never remove the hood when pulling an engine. I hook the hoist chain straight to the intake adaptor plate. 

[Robert Schles]

The service manual states in section 9-39 step 6 to remove the hood. I'll give it a try. Thanks Russ

[C. Van Tune]

Mark everything before loosening anything.   I'd use painter's tape with a sharp-tipped marker or pen, tracing around the brackets, bolt heads, and all other important points where parts line up.  

Plenty of detailed close-up photos & videos are your friend too.    

Go slow/careful on this, and good luck. 

[3ft7bqmb7dryo]

Just get the engine as close to the boom as you can. I call pull and engine with 1 person. 

[Jason Edge]

The engine can be removed without removing the hood but it is tight. I prefer to remove the hood. As a guide mark where the hood hinge attached to the hood. If you have already went through the process of adjusting the hood hinge to inner fender bracket, and the hood hinge to firewall bracket, to get the hood aligned, you are really just talking about the attachment at the hood. Clearly outline the bracket location at hood and you should be fine.  Personally I like the better clearance and ability to lift the engine high and straight up but in a pinch you can remove engine with hood on.

[C. Van Tune]

+1 on Jason's comments.  

On some cars (like vintage Mustangs with big-block V8s) I've found it helpful to jack up the rear of the car several inches off the ground (and safely position it on jack stands)  to improve the angle of the engine-drop with transmission attached.  

I've never tried it on a Cadillac, or even know if it is necessary, once the hood's off.  Just a handy tip to keep in mind. 

[Robert Schles]

I’ve been told the same thing from a few others who have lot’s experience removing engines. Hopefully jacking up the rear and lowering the front will make it easier. If all goes well Jason will have another tech tip for his newsletter. Thanks

[Jason Edge]

I've never had a need to jack the rear up or lower the front when removing an engine and prefer to have some clearance for the cherry picker and to pop under and check things out from the bottom as it disconnects from the transmission (or if dragging the trans out with engine as an assembly) and to check for any lines, wires etc as the engine is removed. Most cherry pickers will lift the engine more than enough up to clear everything ... and again, I prefer not to have the front sitting on the ground. 

[Robert Schles]

I hooked up the plate to the intake manifold with shortest possible hook to the hoist. Raised the engine as far up as possible to the hood then inched it forward. I repeated this several times until the oil pan was clear. No need to raise up the rear and lower the front. The engine came out much easier than I thought. Thankfully there was need to remove the hood. 

[C. Van Tune]

Great job! Thanks for the added info.