Installing a Rebuilt Engine

A rebuilt engine or an overhauled engine is a used engine that has been dismantled, cleaned and repaired according to current manufacturing standards. While the process of rebuilding an old engine can be laborious, it is definitely cheaper than buying a brand new engine replacement. Also, there are a lot of shops out there selling rebuilt engines at almost half the price of the brand new ones. If you do not have the patience or the skills to rebuild an engine, you can just buy a rebuilt engine and install it in your vehicle. To install a rebuilt engine, here is what you should do.

Step 1 – Remove the Old Engine

You need to remove the old engine first before you can install the rebuilt one. To do this, park your vehicle where you can position your engine hoist to lift the engine out. After parking your car, set up the engine hoist then check the hood of your car. You may take the entire hood of your car off so that you can work without any interference. To remove the hood of your car, use a wrench to loosen the bolts of the hinges located inside the hood. The hood can be quite heavy and you need help to get it out of the way.

After taking off the hood of your vehicle, remove the negative cable from the battery then drain the radiator fluid out from the radiator. To get the radiator out of the way, take out the fan and the alternator, then loosen the fuel lines and intake air supply. Pull the air conditioning compressor and the power steering pump out of the way but leave the hoses in so that you won’t have to reconnect them later on. Next you need to take out the electrical wiring from the motor, loosen the exhaust manifold, and then remove all the bolts that are holding the engine in place.

Once the engine is free, bring the engine hoist around then hook the engine to the hoist. Lift the engine out from the vehicle then put it in a safe place.

Step 2- Put the Rebuilt Engine In

After getting the old engine out of the way, hook the rebuilt engine on the hoist to lift it off the ground. Roll the hoist close to the vehicle then lift the engine until it clears the top of the engine compartment of the vehicle. Guide the engine into the cavity of the engine compartment and then slowly lower it down.

Step 3 – Install the Engine

Lower the engine down slowly until the crankshaft centerline is aligned with the transmission input shaft. Check the clearance of the engine compartment constantly as you lower the engine and make sure that the engine dowel pins are aligned with the holes in the transmission bell housing.

Step 4 – Fasten the Engine

To secure the engine is in place; fasten the engine-to-transmission bolts. Crawl under your vehicle to check if the torque converter is aligned with the bolt holes in the flywheel before you tighten the rest of the bolts that hold the engine in place.

Step 5 – Install the Hoses and Fuel Lines

To finish the job, install the hoses and fuel lines that you removed earlier. Connect electrical and fill with oil and coolant.