Im 17 and doing an exhibition project of rebuilding the engine on a sprite and i was wondering how should i approach taking out the engine. should i leave the transmission attached to the engine or unbolt it.
thanks,

I have a 62 Sprite and I don't believe it is at all practical to consider removing the engine and not the tranny. There are only a few bolts holding the tranny in place so just remove them and pull the engine/tranny as a unit.

Nelson

Yup!

Pull the engine/trans as a unit. It takes patience and planning, but MUCH easier than trying to do the two pieces separately. Especially when it comes time to stuff it all back together.

Agreed!

I'd also suggest taking off the bonnet (hood)...you'll need the room. If you plan to clean/test/repair the radiator, go ahead and remve it as well.

Ray

also don't forget to drain the oil from the tranny! or have lots of rags handy.

...and REMOVE the shift lever!!! (DAMHIK)

Ray

Dont forget the 2 bolts on either side of the tunnel these are accesed from inside the car, you will need to remove the carpet from the sides of the tunnel to get to them.

OK now, everybody together.......
DON"T forget the ground strap!!!!!

Glen Byrns

2nd on the draining the tranny fluid. when i took my engine/tranny out it crapped tranny oil all over the garage floor. i was doing good up until that point, lol. everything else people said is good info also. good luck

Don't forget the ground strap

Remove one motor mount from the engine (2 bilts) and one from the chassis (3 bolts).

& jack the rear end of the car up higher than the front end is jacked up!

I pulled mine earlier this year after heeding advice found here and did it with NO mistakes! Search, look at the manual and do it. You'll need to tilt the engine a lot so plan for that. Either a tilt mechanism on the hoist or something.

and if you can get some helping hands from friends.

I don't understand the "collective wisdom" of pulling the engine and tranny as a unit. I've done it both ways and see no appreciable difference in the amount of work involved ---except that it is easier to maneuver just the engine out than it is with the WHOLE DARN LENGTH of the assembly? AND you don't have to mess with draining the tranny or hooking up the drive shaft on re-install.

I agree with BillL that pulling the engine solo isn't hard at all but putting it back in is a bear!!! Put them in together but pulling them seperately is OK.
BillM

I have always pulled and installed the engine by itself. I just found it easier to align the clutch than to align the prop shaft.

Prop shaft easy to install. Remove the four bolts at the differencal and pull it out. Tape the front ujoint straight. Stick it in when you have the engine and tranny all bolted up. Replace four bolts. Forget about the tape. One man job maybe 20 min.

And mark it to the rear diff first.

Granted I've only done this once, but why disassemble the prop shaft at all? When I did it I couldn't get it apart easily so left it. Gearbox slides right off the shaft and on putting it back in, align the shaft into the gearbox as you go. Seemed to work easy for me that way but maybe I was just lucky?

I like to keep my hands far away from that area when sliding one back in the tunnel. I have had a few bind on the transmission mount and then let loose abruptly. It is a matter of preference, but I also find it easier\safer with it removed.