Engine removal guide

hi

i need a guide to help be remove my 1300 engine from my golf driver.

Haynes manual covers it pretty well. Its not a complicated job, just a long one due to lots and lots of things needing disconnecting.

Pulled one out in one and a half hours over the Xmas break…

Disconnect battery.

Disconnect fuel lines, thorttle cable and choke cable to the carb.

Disconnect radiator bottom hose (and catch the coolant in something!)

Split exhaust where front pipe joins inlet manifold.

Unplug wiring to alternator, follow loom round the back to the starter.

Unbolt the starter from the gearbox bellhousing and remove.  You can pull the starter away with the wiring loom attached to the starter and rest it on the battery tray.

Disconnect LT wiring to distributer.

Disconnect coil lead to dizzy cap.

Disconnect heater in and out hoses. (more coolant may spil - be ready to catch it)

Disconnect gear linkage from back of gearbox.

Disconnect clutch cable from clutch arm.

Disconnect speedo cable from gearbox.

Jack up the car and support it on axle stands - make sure it's firmmly supported before going underneath it.  Get it nice and high to give you plenty clearance for later on…

Use splined key to disconnect 12 spilned bolts that hold driveshafts to output flanges on gearbox (andsolute pig of a job if the cars not been appart in a while - you may resort to cutting the heads off!) - don't worry if you have to butcher them, they are cheap from the dealer.

Unbolt gearbox bell housing from engine block.

Support engine on sump then remove rear engine mount.

AT THIS POINT - ENSURE YOU AND NOTHING ELSE IS UNDER THE CAR!!

Unbolt the gearbox top enine mount and the front engine & gearbox mount.

Remove the gearbox - it's heavy! - DON'T strech over the car holding it - you WILL hurt your back like this!

Pull gearbox out from under car - it may help to remove the front spoiler - especially if a GTI item is fitted.

The engine can now be unbolted from the final engine mount and lowered to the floor on the trolley jack.  Be careful not to hurt yourself here as the engine is very heavy!  If you can find a "milk crate on wheels" to drop it onto that's ideal.

Slide the engine out from under the car forwards.

Job done

This has gotta be one for the archive.

Remember this guide is specific to the Mk1 Golf Driver.  1100 is similar but they tend to have automatic chokes.

Big block is different in that starter is onfront of block and exhaust manifold is at the back.

On the big block engine I favour disconnected the exhaust at the front pipe to centre box join or head to manifold, especially where those "c-clamp" manifold to front pipe things are fitted - they are an absolute swine!