Purchase A Carburetor HatBefore you start working on the engine, the first thing you should do is pull the air filter and cover the carburetor with some type of carburetor hat. This will prevent debris from entering the carburetor and ruining the engine once you get it back in the car. Once you have the hat on, pull the carburetor and store it in a clean place. Be careful not to drop anything in the exposed intake manifold before you put the plate over it. Just like the engine stand, a carburetor hat is inexpensive when compared to the cost of your engine.
Invest In A Set Of Line WrenchesI'm amazed at the number of teams still using regular wrenches and even crescent wrenches on oil-line and fuel-line fittings. They then often wonder why they have to replace so many fittings during a race season. Line wrenches are great because they are made specifically for the fittings and usually come with a smaller handle that's ideal for hard-to-reach places.
Also make sure that you have a box full of line caps to cap the fittings and prevent leakage that can create an unsafe working environment.
Have Some Duct Tape HandyDespite the jokes, duct tape is extremely useful when pulling an engine. You're able to tape wires together and keep them out of the way, tape up the heads once the headers have been pulled, and cover any other exposed areas that could allow debris to enter the engine.
Mark All Of Your Motor Mount PillsMost motor mounts have a pill in them that allows you to raise or lower the back of the engine. That way you don't have to worry about the exhaust dragging. Make sure that you mark which way the pill is facing and which way the pill needs to be placed in the mount to get your engine back to the correct height when you place it back in the car.
Also, it's a good practice to sit the car on the scales before pulling the engine. After the engine work is done and you put it back in the car, you can make sure that all of the weights are back where they should be. This will help ensure that the engine is back where it was before you pulled it out.
ConclusionPulling an engine is never fun. I'd venture to say it is something that we all dread because of the amount of work and time it takes to pull a motor and put it back in the car. It's usually something we want and need to do quickly, but remember that safety has to be a prime consideration. By following these steps, you can use your time more efficiently, protect your equipment, and pull the engine as quickly and safely as possible.