I'm trying to remove this engine from an s4 5 spd. I tried to remove all bolts that looked like they held the engine to tranny, but it's not coming loose. How many bolts hold the tranny to the engine? And it is possible to remove the engine while leaving the tranny on the car, right?

 

yeah, taking the gearbox out with the motor makes installation much easier. tranny bolts, 2 on top, the starter motor has to come out i think. 2 on the left side and 2 on the bottom and 1 or 2 on the right side. i cant remember exactly. If the motor/tranny has been mated for 13 years they'll be reluctant to come apart, i suggest prybars

 

I won't be installing any engine back in this car, so I'm not too worried about that. Thanks for the info, time to find a large pry bar.

 

you shouldn't need a prybar. Start losening the bolts on the crossmember that supports the transmission. the tranny should start pulling away from the engine. If it doesn't, then you have a bolt left somewhere.

 

theres 2 on the top right, one on the bottom right, one behind the starter, one IS a starter bolt, and then one like behind the oil filter.



take those off and yank, and it should pop loose

 

mine was a bitch to pop loose

 

I strapped a ratcheting strap thingy on the coolant neck, wrapped it around the front end, and started cranking. I found out that there's only one bolt still holding them together, I think. It's below the starter mounting point, but it looks difficult to get ahold of. I can't get a wrench over/around it, because it is surround on 3/4 of the side by the tranny housing, if that makes sense. And I can't get a socket over it; maybe a thin-walled socket could get over it. Does this sound right? Am I looking at the right bolt?

 

14mm socket should go right on?

 

I never ran into that problem. The only one that gave me a tough time was one on the top drivers side. I had to go 1/4 turn at a time with a box end wrench, but thats because i'm stupid and couldn't figure out another way.....

 

It was 17mm. The socket fit, just last night in the dark I didn't notice all the grime built up around it. Rammed the 17mm on, got the bolt out. Through a terribly violent and barbaric process, we got the engine out. It involved 2x4s, straps, a couple ladders, and eventually it ended up kinda rolling out of the car onto the ground.