Pulling a 3.3 engine.

[98greenmachine]

Has anyone pulled a 3.3 engine recently? I'd love to not pull the tranfer case and tranny or drop the front axle. Can it be pulled without doing this? I bought this '98 used w/low mileage (120K) 4 x 4 and 3.3 auto. Distributor seized up and ate the cam gear. I have the engine down to parade rest. Heads have been redone and another cam ready to install. Engine wasn't run long after dist.locked up (maybe a 1/8 -1/4 mile, basically till it died) according to previous owner. I got some metal from the well under dist, but seems like there should be a lot more...the entire cam gear was gone. I didn't find any metal in the oil when I drained it. I'd feel better about pulling the block and cleaning-inspecting it, vice putting it back together as is. I have most of the parts already to finish it. I've read the Haynes manual and looked extensively online. They mention pulling the inspection cover to gain access to the torque conv bolts. I have everything else removed and just pulled the starter & insp cover bolts. I still wasn't able to remove insp plate yet due to it hitting front axle housing and tranny lines (one on each side). Tranny lines are a minor issue, but it appears that the engine separator plate is solid and won't provide access to TC nuts or bolts anyway...I hate to mess with the lines and drain the fluid for nothing. Has anyone run into this dist lockup problem, I hear its pretty common? I considered just adding a magnetic drain plug and placing magnets on the oil filter, and running with it like that and doing frequent oil changes at first. The inside of the engine looks very good...no ridge at top of the cyl's. I'll be changing water pump and all belts and hoses, but wasn't planning to change the oil pump unless I pull the engine. Just trying to find out if anyone has run one after this happened, without a total rebuild? I am on a bit of a budget for time & money, but I'd hate to end up with metal in one of the bearings.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated...I didn't see any other similar posts.

 

Thanks, Barry S. '98 Green Machine.

[PaMountianbiker]

I pulled the motor out of mine without removing the front suspension or tranny just left it all in place. I did have a SFD at the time and I think it gave me more clearance. It was a squeeze but came out and put another back in .

[ahardb0dy]

Do yourself a favor and get the FSM in the garage section, it's free to download and will be way better than the Haynes manual,

 

Link to manual here:

 

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/pathfinder/1998_Pathfinder/

Edited December 31, 2012 by ahardb0dy

[Slartibartfast]

How did it keep running after the dizzy seized?