It's not clear if you are going to pull and reinstall the same engine, or put another one in there.

Stating the obvious here, but you have to give a long jaundiced look at a PnP candidate if the car has no significant body damage or rust. That increases the odds that there is a mech. problem which caused the owner to throw in the towel. Might just be an electrical issue which you could resolve in the R&R process, but also could be the engine is toast.

The yard will have drained the oil, but even if the plug is gone and the pan is dry, you can stick a finger into the pan and scrape the inside around the drain plug and see if you come up with metal particles. A smear of fine, graphite-like sludge is pretty typical, no big deal. Are the spark plugs clean, not oiled up? With plugs out and in neutral, it's usually possible to turn the crank over with the fan belts, and at least make sure it turns without hangups.

The $150 or so isn't chicken feed, but more to the point, I'd be really bummed to spend that many hours grubbing around, then schlepping it home for a teardown to find I now have a 400-lb boat anchor to get rid of.
--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F-M46, dtr's 94-940 B230FD, my 83-244DL B23F-M46, 89-745(LT1 V8), 98-S90, 77MGB and four old motorcycles)

I swapped in a 92 engine in my 87 and it took probably 3 eight hour days. I spent a lot of time cleaning the engine compartment, changing the seals on the engine as well as the breather box,and installing a new timing belt, tensioner and water pump. I used the opportunity to flush the steering system and radiator. I spent some time changing the clutch and flushing the gearbox as well. My biggest advice would be to have some helper there, if not just for moral support, then to spot you when you pull and reinstall the engine. It's safer that way. I pulled mine alone and ended up denting the oil pan when I lost control of the engine in mid-pull. It cost me an oil pump and pan....not cheap. Anyway, good luck and let us know how it goes.

I work slowly and it took me 6.5 to pull my engine alone. I spent another 15 hours detailing out all the little junk to do in there while you do it (things like clean the engine compartment, new seals and timing belt and tensioner, new water pump and hoses, thermostat, flame trap, check wires,etc.) and another 10 hrs to put it back together. A couple of tips come to mind: A digital camera as you tear it all apart is great to utilize, a Bentley manual with all the stuff photocopied so that when you spill a pint of power steering fluid over it you haven't ruined the whole book (don't ask me why I picked up this tip) and some masking tape and a sharpie for labeling hoses and other things that get reconnected somewhere. A box of quart and a box of gallon Glad freezer bags are nice for keeping nuts and bolts from different assemblies organized and seperated from one another.

I recently pulled an engine and transmission at a PNP. Use their rolling gantry. I got there at 8 am. It and I was out by noon and rolling to the front door.

There were two of us. My neighbor, who by the way is legally blind, helped. He mostly watched the tools. I lost my nice long time 45 year old ratchet the last time I was there. So he was a great comfort.

I would suggest you pull both at the same time. Switch the transmission out in the open. All the accessories can change out before you lift or later. I like later. You can get to those under the manifold gadgets. Clean it all up and do a nice job.

You undo all three mounts bolts from the car. Hook up the engine. Drop the transmission cross brace. I used an equalizer. Let the back end swing down. Go up can up a little then forward a little. Letting it come forward and more up to clear the oil pan. You want tilt all to clear the A/C condenser, if you have one?

I removed the front cross brace pan in front of the radiator so I could just have lots of room. I later walked in and took the rack and pinion. I had to undo the power steering down there anyhow.

Its pretty straight forward just got to look carefully to make sure you are all undone and clear. I pulled the engine harness and purchase the computers so I didn’t have to deal with the little details in the bay.

It’s like being at the dentist office. Except you’re the man, with the smile, big arms and a whole lot bigger bay to pull from!

Phil