Caddy Prep
The 4.9L is cleaned and most lines & wires disconnected. Following Tyre's advice I decided dropping the cradle out would be the easiest method.
Before I get to work on the motor, I pulled the fuel pump from the tank.
It's only a lil bit awkward coming out. In the end I wasn't able to use the Caddy's fuel pump being it's shaped different & won't fit into an X body fuel tank. I picked up a 89' Century (A Body) Fuel tank with pump & sender for $50 from the dismantlers. The later A body cars use baffles in the fuel tanks to keep gas around the pump while cornering & such. It is important for the pump & the fuel injection, the engine will hesitate or stall in heavy cornering without the baffles. The A body fuel tanks are shaped the same as X bodies, so they are direct replacement.
The Caddy didn't like me too much & bit me to prove it !! Also know as braking the axle nut free - pulling towards smashed fender !! Doooh !! Ah well, what's a swap without a lil' blood ?? Oh and sweat - that's only after about an hour !!! Gotta love south Florida in the summertime !!! Sorry, no tears - but I did curse up a storm on a few occasions, after busting knuckles or just getting stuff to work.
Since the cradle is dropping out I started the straps out nice and long.
The hoist is now holding the weight so I take out the cradle bolts.
Down she goes..... leaking lots of fluid ....
Birds eye view.
The roller legs of the hoist are long enough to rest the cradle on & slide it out from under the car.
I'm not quite a redneck, but I borrowed one of their tricks - Concrete blocks !!!
Now the motor & tranny come off the cradle.
Time to introduce my buggy. The automotive rollers available are expensive & small, so I made a trip to Home Depot. Got two 10 foot 2x4's and had them cut into six 36 inch pieces, grabbed four wheels rated for 300lbs, woods screws & Waa LAA !! My $24 buggy....
As you can see it's more than large enough & hella strong !!! The extra size made it easy to move around the hoist legs so I could drop the motor straight down.
The buggy is large enough to set the entire cradle on, makes it very easy to move around. Hey, that car behind it looks pretty mean !!!