Pulling motor and tranny

[ONEBAD78TA]

So how would you guys pull a Pontiac motor out of a 78 trans am ? Engine and tranny together,,or just the engine,,and how many hours should a shop take to do it? I would pull them both at the same time,,the guy who is working on my car pulled the distributor ,oil filter mount and all of the pulleys brackets alternator power steering pump of an engine he new I was selling,,and the motor ran like a Swiss watch,,so I'm pretty pissed ,,and want to get an idea on how much a GOOD REPUTABLE SHOP WOULD CHARGE,,,he even dropped a zipp tie in the distributor whole as an added bonus so I ended having to pull it all apart and now have a garage ornament that I will rebuild later ,

[ONEBAD78TA]

Here is the motor,,so it doesn't get any easier than this huh.

[jarhead]

never done it on a GM so take it with a grain of salt.

I would remove anything that will be in the way like the radiator...

You may need one of those adapters on your engine hoist that allows you to move the engine front to back because you will need to tilt it when you get to a certain point. Drain your trans or all the fluid will go everywhere (if that wasn't already apparent).

I have always just unbolted the trans because it was easier for me. But with a Ford top loader it isn't a problem, or a C4. Don't know what trans you have on that GM.

EDIT: you may be able to get that zip tie out with one of this claw things
http://www.amazon.com/Flexible-Claw-.../dp/B000RB7AGY

[ONEBAD78TA]

yea,,, I agree,,I would remove only what had to be removed,I could have done it better than him when I was in 8th grade auto shop,,,let alone now,,I guess that will teach me to pay someone to do something just because Im being lazy.I tried one of those and I stiil couldnt get it out,,it got wedged in between the crank and the block,oh well now I have a back up motor.Im just hopeing he doesnt try to charge me more than 6 hours for the work.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Automatics are easy to disconnect and just pull the engine separate.

[ONEBAD78TA]

yes ,but if your supposed to pull them both out why not yank em both at the same time.