VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 How do I remove the engine of a 1924 Superior?

I recently purchased a 1924 Chevrolet Superior touring car, and when I finally got it running, I hear a deep knock, suggesting bearing issues, maybe a piston, something not good. Engine needs yanking. I have removed many engines from many cars, but this one defies easy removal of this engine: a frame cross member separates the oil pan from the flywheel, and it appears to have the original rivets still intact, but the engine either needs to pull straight up, or this cross member needs to be removed. Straight up is not an option either, as the firewall impedes this.

Any one know how I can take this 4 cylinder engine out without dismantling the entire drive train? There's got to be a trick to this.

Hi.
I have a 1924 4 door Sedan where I have had the engine out twice, actually three times. When I got the car there was a 1925 engine in it, which obviously was not right, it was never run in the car as there were no space for the flywheel behind the crossbar, and many other things. I happend to have a 490 engine - I have also a 1919 490 - although a 1919-1920, but they are all more or less the same which I put in the car.
To get the engine out you have to dismantle the head from the block and also the wishbone from the engine, the bolt will hit the firewall. Hoist the engine as high as possible and then tilt it forward to make the flywheel pass the crossbar while moving the engine forwards. It helps to have two more hands around. Then you may have to wiggle it a bit to pass the front wheel axle also.
I may have some photos, contact me at olles.rv6@telia.com

regards
Olle

Hi, removing the head makes sense. I can see how it would clear without the head. What is needed to detach the flywheel from the transmission? I see bolts on the oil pan side of the flywheel, if I remove those will the flywheel disengage from the clutch assembly, etc?

Look at this site it might help you. The closest I could find was a 1925. http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/

Hi. The engine connects to the gearbox through the driver in front of the gearbox, the driver connected to the flywheel with six bolts, loosen them. Loosen the gearbox from the mounting brackets and move it as far rearwards as possible so the square axle is free of the flywheel. Do not loosen the bolts at the front of the flywheel now, they holds it to the Engine. It is possible to get the engine out with the flywheel in place.
Sorry, have no photos of that part of the work.

Olle

I looked at the 1925 manual, it does indeed have an engine removal section, but it does not mention clearing that cross member, nor removing the cylinder head.

If I were to proceed with those instructions, the firewall would defeat raising the engine. I think I will wait for my 1924 repair manual I bought on eBay. If that fails me, I will probably start to wrench blindly.

Which wastes tons of my time usually. Sigh.

I have a 25 book and quick read states remove rad and hood, clutch and brake pedals, and engine lifts out with transmission attached. Probably more details then that.

Hi.
Here is a link to the 1924 manual.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyowner/24cmc/index.html
Also you can buy the 1918-24 Repair Manual Cars and Trucks from Gary Wallace, has the info you need about the 490 Engines.
I don´t think the 1925 manual will give you correct info as from 1925 there is a different engine and clutch.

Olle

I have a 1919 repair manual and aside from details pretty much the same procedure I think.

OK, Olle: here's the plan based on your removal of a 1924 Coupe experience.
1. Remove head
2. Remove wishbone support (will not clear fire wall)
3. Loosen (and remove?) bolts securing clutch/transmission to flywheel
4. Loosen transmission mount bolts, slide transmission back as far as possible, but do not remove.
5. Disconnect any other major component??? (universal joint?)
6. With engine hoist in place, lift engine up and tilt engine (forward?) so that the flywheel, still bolted to the crankshaft/engine, clears the frame crossmember
7. Pull out engine and flywheel together as one unit.

Other than disconnecting all of the wiring, exhaust, mounting bolts, all of that, does this sound right, Olle?

(PS - I contacted Gary Wallace, and he suggested I buy something online. I am surprised that if he as this info he wouldn't sell it to me).

I already purchased a 1924 repair manual, it will arrive next week. I may begin taking off the head, since that seems that there is no other way to remove this engine without doing this. Might as well get an early start while I wait for the actual procedure to come in the mail.

Cabboy:

Does your 1919 manual have a section or paragraph that describes removing the engine from the frame? The 1925 manual does, but the configuration is different than my 1924. I have a feeling that the 1918 through 1924 description is what I need, and I have yet to lay my eyes on it.

Let me know,

Thanks

Steve

Hi.

1. Remove head OK
2. Remove wishbone support (will not clear fire wall) OK
3. Loosen (and remove?) bolts securing clutch/transmission to flywheel NO,LOOSEN AND REMOVE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE DRIVER JUST IN FRONT OF THE GEARBOX FROM THE DRIVER HOLDING THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING - THE BRASS UNIT. NOTE THAT THE CLUTCH IS STILL ON THE FLYWHEEL
4. Loosen transmission mount bolts, slide transmission back as far as possible, but do not remove. OK AS FAR AS THE SQUARE AXLE GETS FREE OF THE CLUTCH DRIVER, OR ALMOST.
5. Disconnect any other major component??? (universal joint?) NO THAT IS BEHIND THE GEARBOX. REMOVE STARTER FROM ENGINE BRACKET AND ALSO GENERATOR WITH DISTR AND OILPUMP FROM ENGINE
6. With engine hoist in place, lift engine up and tilt engine (forward?) so that the flywheel, still bolted to the crankshaft/engine, clears the frame crossmember TILT AND MOVE FORWARD TO PASS REAR CROSSMEMBER AND LIFT FURTHER TO PASS FORWARD CROSSMEMBER
7. Pull out engine and flywheel together as one unit. OK

Hope this helps.
This info is not in any repair manual but the 1918-1924 repair handbook is almost necessary when working on the engine.

Maybe Gary meant you should by the books online from his website?

Olle

Olle:

I think this info is enough to get me going, although I will probably wait for my 1918-1924 repair manual to arrive. I already removed the radiator, disconnected everything and removed the cylinder head.

It looks good for further removal efforts, thanks for the help, Olle.

Steve

Hello, Olle:

The 490 engine in my 1924 Chevrolet Superior touring car is now removed from my car and on my bench.

Your instructions worked perfectly, everything was exactly as you described, it was fairly easy...well, not EASY easy, but it went well, no damage, I didn't hurt myself. And there was absolutely no way I would have figured out how to remove this engine, it was not the way I would have engineered it.

I can't thank you enough for your help from so far away. I am amazed that this car was built only 6 hours drive from me, was fairly popular in 1924 and many hundreds of thousands were built - and I had to get help from a guy in Sweden, I would have thought there would be more help locally. There was not.

The only thing I chose not to do from your instructions - I left the generator/distributor/oil pump assembly on the engine, as it appeared that it would not interfere with any of the removal process. I have been very careful not to damage this assembly, so I am thinking that you recommended removing it so it would not get broken. So far, it is fine.

Who knows, maybe I can buy you an 'ol' some time (Norwegian for beer, ale maybe, my great grandfather was from Norway).

Thanks again,

Steve Angvick