I bought a car with an engine knock the other day and plan to change the engine in the next couple of weeks. I know the standard Hendy way is to drop the engine with the box out of the bottom. I wondered if it is possible and not too much of a mission to get the engine out of the top and leave the gearbox behind so I don't have to drain the box. I will also struggle with height dropping it as I don't have a ramp.

Thoughts please?

If it is easier to just drop the lot I will find a way to get the car up and just do it that way.

Thanks

Lee

Just take complete front end off u struggle get out the top

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You can do it a number of ways like above you can take complete front end off and just slide it out complete through the top which you risk hitting your radiator or through the bottom you don't need ramps as you would have to put it on axle stands anyway which you just about get enough heights .personally I always take complete unit out as trying. To line up the heavy box in situ is a pain easier I find to do it out of the car now if you box clever you will leave the inner cv in the gear box and take the shaft out I always cover the bearings with one of those surgical gloves now the offside on I'm not familiar with on your model as to wether if pulled out of the box will drop the oil like they do on the mk1 or the shaft just goes in and it's blanked to stop oil loss but you can split that one half way .should be able to do the full job in a day oh and your air con to save a regas just release the pump and tie out of the way making a note of which way the serpentine belt is routed.

Thanks for the info guy's.. So to split the shaft and leave the cup in the box which I guess that is what you are saying I presume I need to release the large gaiter clip? Does the shaft just fall out then or are they the type that are retained with an 'O' clip or similar? I presume the gaiter clips are not reusable either? I guess it is swings and roundabouts as to whether I just drain the box and pop the shafts right out? A good option to know though.

So take the box with the engine and drop it down is easier that lift it up?

I had considered pulling the front off if I get really stuck! Good to know I can leave the A/C in place too, I had hoped that would be the case.

Also I must remember to note the belt route... I guarantee I forget!

So you reckon engine swap in a day or just getting it out? I was hoping I could get it all out and at least bolt the new one back in in a day.

Thank you

Lee

Personally I would just pull the shafts from the box and drain it.

Lift the engine and gearbox out together if it will fit, if not split the box abd pull the engine out,

I haven't done a focus engine out but I have done a few clutches so I know splitting the gearbox is easy enough.

I have changed engines on other cars and had them running again same day so I don't see why a focus would be any different.

If you work at it you should be able to complete the job in a day I use ty wraps to hold the cv boot back on .the off side one will just pull out if you want the near side out as well needs just a bit of a pry but if your going to take the shafts completely out drop the oil on the drain plug first lot cleaner.

So I was having a look at it last night. Engine down does look like the better option. I think lifting it up would be very tight.

My next question is how do you get at the manifold bolts to release that off the engine? Exhaust passes over the subframe from what I can see so must need removing first? Or is there a joint that lets you split it and pull the main system out of the way and drop the manifold part in tact?

Does the power steering pump coming with the engine or can that hand out of the way and stay with the car too? I have not checked to see where that is yet.. I assume just above the AC pump?

Wiring wise is there analog to split the harness and Ecu and bring them with the engine or do I need to unplug everything from the engine first?

Thanks again for the help guys

Harness just unplug everything and fold out of the way the power steering pump if it's the same as the 2.0 is under the wing I'm not familiar with the layout of this engine so guessing a bit as for manifolds can not just unbolt the cat where it attaches to the manifold and the remove front section of exhaust out of the way some pics would be helpful to offer a bit more advice just look at things logically and you should be able to Suss out what needs to be removed before dropping it out .seems daunting but it's not really just a lot of work .

Thanks again. I need to get it up in the air and have a proper look. My issue is pretty much have to attack it on Saturday and try and get the bulk done as I am working on the drive and don't get any other days to do big jobs like that. Hence I am trying to gain as much info before hand to try and save me some time head scratching!

Appreciate all the advice and info.

Cheers

So the swap went reasonably well other than a few things I have posted separate questions about and one big PIA.. The bearings on the end of the off side drive shaft where I split it at the CV all fell apart! I thought those ends were held on with circlips? It appears not unless they have broken up as the ends dropped off when I went to reassemble the shaft this afternoon and all the needles started falling out over the drive way! Not a happy bunny but hoo hum! I will be getting a new shaft. I made sure the same did not happen on the other side by copping a handful of grease and holding them in place as I put the shaft back in!

The weather has really sowed up progress though. I was hoping to be finished today but with the couple of issues I had not to be the case.

Would have been much easier to just pull the shafts from the gearbox

Lol indeed! Well I will have to pull one now and try not to spill too much fluid! Is the filler plug easy to get at? I presume it is on the side like normal to give a fill level?

Cheers

Lee

Yeah it's easy to get to Lee, it should be inside the plastic cover on the front of the box (the older focus was like that anyway)

The driver side shaft will pull out easily so be ready to get the catch can under it very quickly. If you need the passenger shaft out, I tend to put a drift through the inside of the box and knock it out rather than lever it out.

Cheers.. I only need the one shaft out but that is a good tip worth remembering.