Thread: I asked a question and got an answer, but it was way too wrong

I rang up a wrecking yard as I wanted a long motor, this was one of the DYi parts. I have been there before and each vehicle is lifted of the ground on wheel rims so all 4 wheels are suspended.
I especially asked about their on site engine lifters and asked if they do fit in between the vehicles as they only allow a max of 1 meter clearance on the sides, front and back. I was told people have no problems pulling the motors out and others have done it.

So I arrive their with brother inlaw tools in hand and the engine crane was being used by some one in the yard. So on we go to start dismantling every thing to get this motor out, it was low kms and the front of the vehicle had a nose crash. So we spent out time panel beating panels to get the radiator out and condenser fans, so we had room to work. After finally wrestling the transaxles we were ready to lift.
So off I go to get the engine lifter and I find the folding legs have been welded to keep them in the splayed open position.
I asked the attendant, how the hell to you expect some one to push that liter in between the narrow spaces left between the cars?. He shrugged his shoulders and suggested we carry it over our heads
I said what ? the thing weighs a couple of hundred kilos and my bro in law is in his 70s. There is no way we could life and carry this thing.
Then he asked how many cars in was it to see if they could fork it out. But that was too hard as 1/2 dozen cars would have to be moved.
The only solution was to get my own lifter, but that was a 2 hour return trip. Which we did and get back with 1 hour to spare before closing. So time ran out for us as we would still have to remove the transmission and alt starter, pas and a/c compressor.
They allowed me to keep the lifter attached to the engine so I can come back again in the morning.
But I asked before I even came, if I had known this I would have brought my own lifter in the 1st place.
I'm not having a good week this week and there's still more days to go

Originally Posted by crash

If it is a front wheel drive vehicle, it would almost be quicker to drop the motor out the bottom - lifting the vehicle up and sliding the motor / transmission and trans axles out.
I have done this before and is relatively easy.

Yes would have been easier, but after panel beating the front panels we got it out via the top.
We returned this morning as we left the engine lifter chained to the engine, it was another hour to pull the auto and unbolt all the ancillaries. Could have got yesterday if we didn't lose 2 hours.
Trouble is you cant lift the vehicle, and the whole vehicle rests on wheel rims. No to sure if that would pass safety rules, allowing the public to strip their own parts and crawl under these vehicle