Pointers to Subframe dropping?

[blaxkinned]

I am thinking of dropping the subframe on my 99 Camry V6, anyone have tips, tutorials, diagrams that would help?

I mainly might be doing a transmission swap.

Thanks

[Mister_Perkins]

You should lift the motor out a little bit of the engine bay, enough to slide the transmission past and below. Or just pull the entire motor / trans and disconnect / reconnect.

$70-$100.00 for a motor lift.

[camrtm3]

You should have PM'ed me mate. LOL

I am assuming you are following a guide of some sort therefore all the mounts, PWR Steering, rack, is all unbolted from the frame. Like the above post use and engine hoist and lift the engine a slight bit. Cause once the sub frame is out the hoists sometimes has a habit of sinking a little. This also removed weight form the subframe bolts. It also makes sure that the engine is properly held by the hoist. Loosen all 4 bolts. Do not remove. Get a Friend to hold it and remove the bolts. Pull the subframe out.

DO NOT BE UNDER THE FRAME/ENGINE WHEN ALL THE BOLTS ARE OUT. If the hoist fails you dont want to be under it.

BE VERY SAFE WITH THIS. If you are not comfortable doing this. STOP find someone to help!

[reluctantmechanic]

Originally Posted by blaxkinned

I am thinking of dropping the subframe on my 99 Camry V6, anyone have tips, tutorials, diagrams that would help?

I mainly might be doing a transmission swap.

Thanks

I think dropping the subframe is easier than lifting the engine - I believe there are fewer steps in dropping the subframe (not having to remove the axles being the biggest). But if you are going to replace the trans, your axles are coming off either way. I'm also pretty sure the main bolts can't be re-used (and they are maybe 4-6 bucks each)

I did this on a V6 Honda Odyssey, never used an engine hoist - instead, when the main sub bolts were ready to be removed, I placed each side of the subframe on a rolling dolly, making sure I could still access the main bolts - with the subframe resting on the dollys, I removed the bolts, then raised the body off the engine using two floor jacks - I needed about 48 inches of clearance to roll the engine out.

You will have to disconnect the brake lines, so drain as much fluid as you can the night before (oil, brake, coolant, powersteering)...The worst part of this for me was the mess.

Hoped that helped - keep us posted on your progress if you lifted or dropped the engine.

Thanks!

[blaxkinned]

Wow! Thatnks guys for all the info. I will be working on dirt, and I'm a little skeptical that dropping the frame would work for me. I was actually trying to using a hoist because I don't have one, or room to store one if I buy it (since my car is at a friend's backyard and I don't think he would fancy having a hoist laying around there when I am done with it.)

I plan to get 2 extra jackstands. But if I cannot strategize how to use the extra equipment, I'll just do it over the top. The biggest pain when I did it the first time was the passenger side axle. OMG!!!! That thing almost cost me my left hand, and it still didnt come detach from the mount after I took it out with the engine mount. I had to be careful hitting it from the side that slides into the transmission so as not to make it unusable.

I don't want to have an engine fall on my big head. I'll keep you guys posted though.