Recently picked up another R56 with a cooked engine, took off the head and removed the pistons. broken number four piston ring lands. I found too much scoring in the cylinders for my liking, so it needs a rebore and rebuild. I have a spare used JCW N14 engine and am going to replace it as a temporary measure. Has anyone tried to pull the engine out of the bottom? By removing the struts and drive axles and unbolting the engine from the transmission it looks like there is room to slide the transmission over to the drivers side. If I can get about 4" of clearance the engine looks like it will drop out of the bottom without removing the crossmember, steering rack etc. The car is in my garage on jack stands so its not on a hoist, I can easily support the engine and transmission with a floor jack, blocks and jackstands. I am a certified tech so I have lots of experience, has anyone tried to do it this way?

 

I personally have not. But I can say if the car has an automatic transmission, you can actually pull it from the top. I tried that on a '13 justa and '12 CMS.

 

Drop Mod Mini a note on YouTube. He's done a lot of work on Mini's through the years and may have an answer.