Dropping/Installing...engine/subframe from bottom.
 

I mentioned several months ago the niggling tick that was getting more noticeable in the lower engine regions of the Miata's 5.0. I parked it late last fall and due to life, it's just now worked it's way back to the top of the project list.

I've always pulled and installed the engine with tranny attached from the top but may go the dropping engine/tranny/subframe route this time. The shop now has a 2 post lift and I plan on changing the subframe to a Stein style modified one so I can run the Hedman mix headers for better ground clearance. Will also replace the 4 cyl. spec T5 with a WC T5 from a 2002 v6 car with a .68 5th. The 4 cyl tranny has a .85 5th. Looking forward to some comfortable freeway cruising.

All the above said, anyone have any gotcha's to watch our for? Obviously you have to disconnect everything that prevents the subframe from dropping out. My only concern is rust welded fasteners. Particulary the rear two bolts on the subframe. I see major problems if one of those twists off.

Thanks, Ron

Make sure you mark the steering shaft when you slide it apart for proper alignment when re-installed. My steering wheel is about 2 teeth off, and always bugs me. Too busy to drop it and re-stab it.

I have had mine out/in about half a dozen times in the last month as part of my LS Miata build.
Pretty straight forward.
In fact, I never tried to install them separate cause it is too easy to do with the subframe & engine & transmission all connected.
Only real pain in the butt for me is the two subframe bolts that are tough to get a wrench on.
I have designed enough slack in my wiring harness that I don't have to disconnect the harness from the engine at all as long as I keep the stuff within about a foot of the final installation location.

My steering shaft has a flat and as best I can tell it only installs correctly with the rack connection due to the thru bolt but I will take a look this evening and make sure.

I pulled my engine (and reinstalled it in another car) from the bottom. There's a picture of the cart I made in my build thread as well as pictures of others' approaches:

https://www.v8miata.net/ford-v8-miat...-monster-2127/

I went from a running car to having the full assembly out of the car in under a day's work. You're fairly likely to miss a connection so just go slow. I had to rewire my fan switch because I forgot it didn't run through the Ford engine harness.

Well, it was a 6ish hour job from running car to the completed engine/trannyectony. I did manage to stretch the wiring harness a bit, it was attached to the tranny with a ziptie, otherwise pretty much just work.

The wife was recruited to operate the lift, good news is very little fussing. Much less anyway than when she helped pull engine tranny out the top!
Now for the fun stuff.