<VV> Tip Top Tech Topics

[Sethracer at aol.com]

When I was installing the engine in my current Corvair, just before the  
Ventura Convention, I had a friend come by to help. I have dropped out many a  
motor over the years, and installed some too. (Not as many as I have removed,  
but let's not get into that.) With the correct equipment, removal and  
installation can be a safe and rapid activity. But when you are doing either, a  helper 
makes it easier, and usually safer. (It is hard to believe, my wife has  
actually helped me do this.) When doing either by yourself, the  event can be made 
safer by using the correct tools. Last summer's accident  back east, where a 
Corsa member, a friend of mine, was killed by accident  sobered me up to some 
of the dangers involved in these tasks. At Ventura,  feeling a little flush 
after selling a few items, I decided to follow up and  purchase one of the 
EZCarlifts. I watched the demo unit lift a greenbrier  up and down several times at 
the vendor area. When I got home from Ventura,  I assembled my new unit, 
backed in the "Stinger", slid the lift under and  cranked it up. It remains there 
today. This afternoon, I used an ATV  lift correctly placed under the 
motor/Transaxle. I raised it up  to the powertrain (in the car), disconnected the few 
remaining items, and safely  lowered the powertrain out. All the way down, and 
then I found the vent  tubes on the Rochesters were about one inch too high 
to roll the motor out the  back. Hmm. I grabbed the powerdrill and the 
extension cord, and cranked the lift  up another inch and a half, then rolled the 
powertrain out. At no time was any  part suspended from below on less than four 
points. Pretty safe, if I do  say so. And it was so easy. I occasionally 
fantasize about a three-car garage  with the high bays and the the four post lifts, 
etc. But that ain't gonna  happen, at least not here in Northern California, 
unless I hit the lottery - and  I don't play it. The newer light weight, even 
mobile electric hoists, both  4-post and 2-post (side type) also appeal, but 
because of the side-driveway  visability of my house, those big lifts would fail 
the spouse-approval test. So  the EZCarlift was an option that met my "needs" 
(everything is relative). The  reinstallation of the powertrain will be it's 
next test - real soon  now.  So, be safe in your work, and you, too can grow 
old and still have  fun! - Seth  Emerson       



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