Rep Power: 0

I have a 2012 LX that I need to replace the 1.8l engine in (bad connecting rod bearing). I know the recommended prodecure is to drop the engine/trans/front subframe, but for safety reasons, I cannot do it that way. The only place I have available to do the engine swap is in my driveway, which has enough of a slope that I feel trying to jack the front of the car up high enough to pull eveything out would be incredibly risky and unsafe. So for this reason I have no problem going the more time consuming (but safer) route of pulling it out of the top.

Before anyone jumps to any conclusions, I'm not a newbie at this, I have been working on cars most of my life and I swapped the K24 engine in my '03 Accord 2 years ago. My plan is to just pull the engine and leave the trans in place. This is what I did with my Accord and it worked out great.

So my question for the forum is: I would like to know if there is anything I need to watch out for when I do this? I know I'm probably going to end up having to remove a lot to have enough room to lift the engine out (exhaust manifold/cat, intake manifold, etc.). If anyone has some helpful advice, I'd appreciate hearing it. (telling me it's easier to drop the engine ISN'T helpful advice, so please don't)

 
Rep Power: 125

I believe on the 8th and 9th gen civics that the engines were further back in the engine bay. I know the bays were much more cramped in comparison to the older Honda’s, making removal from the top virtually impossible. In my mind, the only way to get it from the top is to basically take the entire front of the car apart.

Suspicion confirmed here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fAmenDSfSKU

There are places that will rent out garage bays with lifts. It may be wise to consult one of those, because this seems to add so much unnecessary time in my opinion.

 
Rep Power: 367

this one is for the 8th gen 06-11" cars, guy removed everything around the base of the windshield and radiator, not sure if this would apply to 9th gen
My definition is that the windshield/cowl extends further on the top of the engine bay

 
Rep Power: 0

ok, so things have actually gone pretty well, I've only run into one snag. When trying to separate the transaxle from the engine, the torque converter seems to be stuck to the drive plate and wants to pull out. I have removed the eight (8) torque converter/drive plate bolts, so there shouldn't be anything that's keeping them together. I've tried using a pry bar, but I don't want to be too aggressive and damage the torque converter.

Any suggestions?

 
Rep Power: 0

So there's a 'nipple' on the end of the torque converter that fits into the end of the crank shaft. when I was separating the engine and trans they were at slightly different angles and it was causing the torque converter to bind in the crank shaft. I got them aligned and gave a little wiggle and they came apart with a little coaxing from a pry bar.

I'm happy to report that the engine is out! Next step is to move the wiring harness to the new(er) engine.

 
Rep Power: 367

from the top?
if so, which method did you try?
or a different method?

 
Rep Power: 0

Yep, from the top. So I had to remove the radiator/fans to give me enough room I also removed the cowl panel extension. One 'gotcha' that I ran into was I should have removed the crankshaft pulley bolt, it was getting hung up on the brakelines and I was lifting it out.

Engine out!


Ready to lift

 
Rep Power: 367

Thanks for the information!
Hope this helps someone else too