OT Benefiting from Chrysler's problems

[Jim Yergin]

Two weeks ago the engine in my 2001 PT Cruiser gave up the ghost at 165,000 miles. I really like the car and did not want to lose it but the cost of a new engine could not be justified. Luckily for me, this past weekend I was the winning eBay bidder for a remanufactured engine for the car being sold by a former Chrysler dealership that had its franchise pulled by Chrysler. They had to clear out their inventory and that included this engine. At $650 their loss is my gain. I feel sorry for the two brothers who had to close up the 54 year old dealership started by their father but it sure helped me out.

Jim Yergin

[Don Coatney]

Jim;

Good for you! I rarely even look at eBay these days. I would not have thought of looking there for a modern engine. It appears there are still deals to be had there? How far away from you was this engine? Could you pick it up in your woody? Are you going to install it yourself?

[Jim Yergin]

Jim;

Good for you! I rarely even look at eBay these days. I would not have thought of looking there for a modern engine. It appears there are still deals to be had there? How far away from you was this engine? Could you pick it up in your woody? Are you going to install it yourself?

Thanks Don. Didn't pick it up in the woodie. It was in New Jersey and I had to go up to Connecticut anyway to borrow a car from a family member so I was able to pick up the engine on the way home. I wish I could install it myself but apparently the engine and transaxle have to come out as a unit from beneath the car and you need a lift to do that. Makes me really appreciate the straight-forward design of my Plymouth.

Jim Yergin

[dezeldoc]

Jim the engine will come out the top without the transaxle, have done a few of them.

[Jim Yergin]

Jim the engine will come out the top without the transaxle, have done a few of them.

Do you know where I can find information on just how to do that?

Thanks.

Jim Yergin

[dezeldoc]

I don't know where to get any books i just dive in and do it. call some shops and see what they say.

[Jim Yergin]

Jim' date='

You should be able to pick up a Clymans book (or one similar) at a book store, or an auto parts store that will cover your 2001 PT. That will show how to remove and reinstall the transaxle. Should also show your motor mounts, etc.

Another possibility is that dealer that sold you the motor. They probably have the original service manual for that car. You could probably get it cheap from them. When I say cheap, $50 is not out of line for cheap. Those books cost about $150 new or more today. Since you plan on keeping your PT for awhile, would be worthwhile.[/quote']

Norm,

I have a manual for the car but it only calls for removal of the engine and transaxle together from underneath the car.

Jim Yergin

[Jim Yergin]

I don't know where to get any books i just dive in and do it. call some shops and see what they say.

Am I correct to assume you just seperated the engine from the transaxle (just as you would if only removing the transaxle) but leave the transaxle in place and then lift the engine out from above? So there is sufficient room to do that separation and lift out the engine? Do you remember if there were any particular tricks or problems?

Thanks.

Jim Yergin

[Plymouthy Adams]

lot of late model cars are cradle mounted engine and transaxle assemblies thus removing the cradle with all attached is easier...my Sunbeam Tiger is easier to drop the suspension which is basically cradle mounted one piece setup, loosen the engine/trans mounts and lower to the ground,,then pick the body up and roll the engine out..sounds difficult but is a one man job..really easier in the long run...pulling it from the front..doable but you better have a high mount hoist and a leveler as you going to have one serious angle..the transmission tailshafts fits into the X-frame...

[dezeldoc]

Tim, isin't the tiger a rear wheel drive? the front wheel drive cars are made to come out the bottom, but most will come out the top also. Jim, is this a stick or auto? if you have an engine hoist, floor jack and stands you can drop it out the bottom as Tim says, these cars are pretty easy to work on, just remember to tag and mark all the vacume lines and such.

[Jim Yergin]

Tim, isin't the tiger a rear wheel drive? the front wheel drive cars are made to come out the bottom, but most will come out the top also. Jim, is this a stick or auto? if you have an engine hoist, floor jack and stands you can drop it out the bottom as Tim says, these cars are pretty easy to work on, just remember to tag and mark all the vacume lines and such.

It is a manual transmission. I have an engine hoist, floor jack and jack stands but I thought you needed to have the car on a lift to get it up high enough to get the engine/transaxle out from underneath the car.

Thanks.

Jim Yergin

[Plymouthy Adams]

Tiger is rear wheel drive is right but again..the best method for engine/tranny removal is still from the bottom..the entire front suspension bolts in using rolled thread aircraft bolts..strongest you can find..got two of these puppies...retirement nest egss if the market still holds up...crap shoot at best...lol

[dezeldoc]

Good luck with that Tim, with this economy we will be lucky to still have houses much less cars! we do our Mopar restorations that way motor and trans on K-member then lower the body down on them.

Jim, It will go high enough to get the motor out with a engine hoist, brace the motor and trans on a floor jack, hook the hoist up to the strut towers and lift the car up and slide the motor out, let the car back down on the stands.

[Jim Yergin]

Got it. Thank you very much.

Jim Yergin

[Jim Yergin]

Jim, It will go high enough to get the motor out with a engine hoist, brace the motor and trans on a floor jack, hook the hoist up to the strut towers and lift the car up and slide the motor out, let the car back down on the stands.

dezeldoc, thanks to your advice I managed to get the old engine out just as you described. A PITA but it is out. Now I have to transfer the useable parts to the new engine and hope I can install it into the car. Thank you very much for your helpful advice.

Jim Yergin

[dezeldoc]

Glad i could be of help to ya Jim!

[Joe Flanagan]

Sounds like a good project, Jim. What's going on with your Woody? I recently replaced the intake manifold gasket on my daughter's Nissan Altima. I found that with the thing on jack stands I could remove anything I needed to from the bottom. Just to replace the gasket required removing one of the drive axles, the oil filter, oil filter mount, starter, fuel injector rails, and numerous hoses and electrical connections. Oh yes, and the throttle body, and the plenum, and then the intake manifold itself. Yikes, what a job. I just knew you weren't going to hand that job to a mechanic. Good luck with it. Sounds like fun.

[Jim Yergin]

Joe,

It might "sound like fun" to someone like you who can take a rust bucket and make it a car but let me assure you that I was not thinking of how much fun I was having while I was doing it. Just as with your daughter's car, in the PT Cruiser, to just remove the alternator you're supposed to remove the drive axle. Amazing.

The woodie is laid up right now while I have the radiator out to be re-cored. Hopefully that will be done soon. I miss driving it. I also have to pull the master cylinder and see if there is something in there that occassionaly blocks the relief port. I have been experiencing having the brakes lock up now and then.

Doesn't appear that the weather here in Northern Virginia is cooperating with your painting plans especially with the periodic thunderstorms this week.

Jim Yergin

[Joe Flanagan]

I know. I take things out, I have to bring them right back in again. Today was ridiculous. At one point it was bright and sunny out and it was raining sideways. Only time I've ever seen that was in the Caribbean. I hope to actually do some painting tomorrow.