K member clearance

**JayTA98** · 02-06-2011, 07:37 AM

Does anyone knows how much clearance I get between the oil pan and the K member if I loose the bolts and let the K member hang by the shocks? Will it be enough clearance to do the oil pan gasket and motor mounts?

I'm fixing to tackle this project this week and I'm checking all the options I got. Thanks.

**bills98ta** · 02-06-2011, 08:40 AM

I've done that a few times. Hang the motor from a bar, across the shock towers, and you have to unhook the steering knuckle from the rack. Plenty of room to drop the oil pan.

**JayTA98** · 02-06-2011, 09:51 AM

thanks. Do you need to disconect the PS lines and the brake lines if I'm just letting the k member hang from the shocks? Do you think it creates enough room for the motor mounts?

**bills98ta** · 02-06-2011, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by JayTA98

QUOTE=bills98ta;2564848]I've done that a few times. Hang the motor from a bar, across the shock towers, and you have to unhook the steering knuckle from the rack. Plenty of room to drop the oil pan.

thanks. Do you need to disconect the PS lines and the brake lines if I'm just letting the k member hang from the shocks? Do you think it creates enough room for the motor mounts?[/QUOTE]

Nope, just drop it down gently. You'll have plenty of room !

**bills98ta** · 02-06-2011, 09:54 AM

I think I had about 8" under the oil pan...

**JayTA98** · 02-06-2011, 07:29 PM

I have lowered springs in the front, will that affect the clearance that you mention? So from what I'm getting you don't lift the engine at all? You just keep it in place with the bar and then lower the k member. I don't have the bar that you are describing. i going to hold the motor from the harmonic balancer with a jack. Sorry about all the questions but I never done this and is going to be by myself so I need to make sure I know what I'm doing. Thanks.

**bills98ta** · 02-07-2011, 04:49 AM

I made my own engine cradle. Once I had the bar across the shock towers, I unbolted the motor mounts, then jacked up the motor a few inches, hung it with chains to the bar, then lowered the k-member. You'll need the jack to lower and raise the k-member back up. The lowering springs should not matter.

**JayTA98** · 02-07-2011, 06:07 PM

well im going to tackle this tomorrow. I'm still looking at the brake lines and I see that the metal tubing for the right side tire runs by the K member and the left side tire runs close to the outside of it. I know you said there is no need to remove brake lines but how do you lower the k member without bending these lines? do you just release the plastic clips that hold them? or do I just stretch them just enough to do the job?