Rear cradle assembly - Stupid Questions (Page 1/3)
Thunderstruck GT NOV 08, 10:31 AM
I recall back then on the GM front wheel drive vehicles, dealers would drop the complete cradle assembly with complete drivetrain assembly attached. I don't recall them doing this to the Fiero.

My questions are....

Can this procedure be done on a Fiero?

Can it be done on the ground (without a lift)?

If anyone here has done this, how did you lift the car high enough to get the assembly out?

Anyone have photos of the car supported in the air?

All this will be done on a 1988 with a V-6

Thanks in advance
skywurz NOV 08, 10:40 AM
Yes 4 bolts + strut bolts and the rear assembly comes right out. Ive done this with and without an engine hoist on the ground no lift.

Please see http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/093983.html

[This message has been edited by skywurz (edited 11-08-2020).]

Thunderstruck GT NOV 08, 11:00 AM
Cool!

Thought about using a cherry picker to lift the car but wasn't sure where to hook on. I guess the rear bumper reinforcement will hold judging by the photos.

I'm not too concerned about the body or space frame, just would like to get the rolling assembly out in one piece.

Thanks!
fieroguru NOV 08, 11:35 AM
Yes, everything can come out the bottom with a simple cherry picker. There is no need for a cart to roll the cradle around. Just drop the cradle and rest it on the cherry picker legs and move it around with the cherry picker.

If you want to remove the struts, bolt and a chain across the strut towers works well as used here:


Anymore, I leave the suspension and brakes with the chassis, so I use a chain with hooks into the cross beam behind the strut towers (just pull the carpet forward):



This is what I call the more power pose!
Dennis LaGrua NOV 08, 11:47 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Thunderstruck GT:

I recall back then on the GM front wheel drive vehicles, dealers would drop the complete cradle assembly with complete drivetrain assembly attached. I don't recall them doing this to the Fiero.

My questions are....

Can this procedure be done on a Fiero?
>>>> Been done many times before
Can it be done on the ground (without a lift)?
>>>>>Yes see the pictures above posted by other members
If anyone here has done this, how did you lift the car high enough to get the assembly out?
>>>>>>I believe the safest way is to use the cherry picker (attaching it to the strut towers), to lift the rear end up high enough to drop the cradle but of course after disconnecting water lines, fuel lines, wiring harness, throttle cable, struts etc, etc
Anyone have photos of the car supported in the air?
>>>> Already covered by the other guys, but you will need to make a dolly with wheels on it to lower down the powertrain cradle and wheel it away
All this will be done on a 1988 with a V-6

Be careful, and good luck
fierosound NOV 08, 11:52 AM

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cvxjet NOV 08, 01:54 PM
I changed the engine/trany in my garage using an engine hoist...made a custom pallet for the cradle to sit on. Lowered the cradle/engine/trany assy onto the pallet, then using a cargo strap wrapped around the trunk, I lifted the chassis up to clear the top of the engine and used a pallet jack to pull the assy out from under the car.

Later, I did not want to borrow the pallet jack to reinstall it, so I used plastic yard sprinkler pipe to roll the assy under the car again (Thanks Dad!)...Remember, the rear chassis weight is probably under 1000 lbs with no engine/trany/subframe/suspension......Make sure the cargo strap can handle THAT much.
Raydar NOV 08, 05:28 PM
I had someone build me a gantry crane. aka The Swingset From Hell.
Works better if you put the front wheels on ramps, first.

This thing is strong enough to hold up the car with the engine, but don't overtax your hoist or other hardware.



Alley oop!
theogre NOV 08, 07:55 PM
⚠️ Warning: Do Not lift by Trunk loop or bolts for it.

See my Cave, Safe Jacking and Jacking to Clear Engine

Notes:
"Repair Links" for chains often are weaker then the chain. Picture in cave w/ wrench and chain is only example and that link only rated to < 800lb.

Removing knuckle and strut in one piece won't bother alignment much or none at all. If you remove strut bottom bolts or change tierod, that kills your alignment.

I remove removed knuckle and strut then attach chain hook to frame first going thru strut towel hole but even that have issues because most have chain too long or hooks to big to go thru strut hole so never added to cave page.

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Raydar NOV 08, 11:00 PM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:

⚠️ Warning: Do Not lift by Trunk loop or bolts for it.




My chain is looped through the steel channel at the front of the trunk compartment (Where the trunk light is.)

That way I can lift the car with the struts in or out.