Out the bottom

Jay Laifman (Jay_Laifman(at)countrywide.com)
Mon, 22 Jun 1998 08:22:05 -0700


I previously inquired about pulling the engine out of the bottom of the Alpine with the front cross member and the transmission - like they do with the Tiger. Someone (who knows who he is) suggested to me that with the Tiger, they take the cross member off first. I pulled out my CAT Shop Notes and my Chris McGovern The Classic Alpine book, and now realize two things: (1) the Tiger's engine front motor mounts are not attached to the cross member, but the Alpine's are, and (2) Sunbeam actually assembled the Alpine by lowering the body down onto the engine/crossmember/transmission assembly. So, it seems it can be done. The only remaining question is "how?"

I think it comes down to two questions: (1) Once the rear of the trans is unbolted and the four cross members are unbolted, what the heck is there in the engine compartment area to attach the hoist to, in order to lift the body up? (2) How ridiculously high does the body have to be lifted to clear the top of the engine?

The CAT Shop Notes suggest that using jacks alone, the body can be lifted high enough to roll the front cross member with wheels on under the front valience. It seems that still leaves a few inches to go above the top of wheels that the engine sticks up. I don't have the car at home, so I don't know how much more is needed. I guess it also would be possible to take off the front wheels and lower the cross member down further on a really good floor jack, or some sort of flat dolly.

The whole reason I am considering this is to make the job of switching my good running gear over to a new Alpine body less of a hassle. I do not know if I am making more of a hassle than it is worth. But, the idea of pulling all this stuff out at once and then attaching it all at once, sure sounds easier.

Jay '67 Bentbeam