224400DD

Apologies if this has been answered somewhere else, but I haven't found a thread containing information on this exact problem. If there is an existing thread please refer me.

Anyway, I've been working on replacing my engine mounts, trans mount, and torque damper/bushings (my car has one) and ran into an issue jacking up the engine. These are the steps I took in order:

1. parked the car on ramps
2. removed both engine mount bolts
3. removed transmission mount bolts
4. removed torque damper nuts/bushings so it moves freely
5. removed fan shroud
6. disconnected throttle linkage
7. placed a thick piece of wood between the oil pan and jack
8. started to lift

Now when I try to raise the engine to whole car starts to lift as if the engine is still connected to something. I have been unable to find in manuals or forums any other steps that need to be taken before lifting the engine. Has anyone else with an automatic 1983 240D experienced this problem and is there another step I'm missing for this particular make/model? I only lifted it 3 or 4 centimeters before noticing the entire car was moving, am I just being too cautious?

ItalianJoe1

The car will lift some as the weight comes off the chassis from the engine, the suspension will extend unitl it's reached the point it would be without the engine weight, then the engine will come off the mounts.

Never done it on ramps, only on lifts, so the difference is much less when lifting from the body only. See if the engine is actually moving off the mounts yet, if not, keep lifting, assuming nothing else is touching it (sounds like you got the necessary things)

224400DD

That makes perfect sense. I'm going to put it on jack stands. I suppose the suspension will have to reach full travel before the engine separates if it's still supporting all the weight.

kajtek1

I hope you are lifting 1 side at the time?
Having whole engine on the jack when you pull mount is good way to loose fingers.
Be careful.

224400DD

@kajtek1,
are you referring to the engine tilting to one side while my hand is under the arm or it just completely coming down?
The engine is on plywood and a jack stand and seems really stable. I'm not sure where one would jack from to only lift one side, as well, wouldn't that put a ton of stress on the un-lifted mounting arm?

kajtek1

Your engine is smaller than those I worked on and I remember the era still had steel pans?
With last generation engines - they have aluminium pans and very small clearances, so you lift them rocking and have to stick your fingers in spots you normally would not put them.
That is why I was always doing 1 mount at the time, where the other was giving me engine stability.
Each engine is different so on some I could just put a block on the pan side, other had double pan with not much support the lower could give, so I was building jack extensions to lift the engine close to the mount bracket.
Bottom line, make sure you double block everything before you put your fingers there.

224400DD

Very interesting. Mine does have a steel pan, on the om616.912.
I'll definitely be careful, I appreciate the warning.