Like the title says, I may have to attempt removing the engine/transmission using a fixed position hoist. That way, I will have to roll the car back as the engine comes up/out.
Would I run into too many problems that way?

I will have the car on jackstands to undo everything underneath first, then lower the car on the wheels and go at the engine from the top.
Oh, it's a 500kg hoist.

Thanks..

 

Fixed position, meaning the boom doesn't extend?

I always have to make the boom reach as far as possible and the hydrualic pump is always rest on the nose of the car.

a load leveler is a must.

 

You'll have to roll the car back and the trans tail shaft will probably hit the ground and tunnel. Good luck.

 

Should be ok. Brain, I think he means a hoist attached to the cieling.

I do as brain said, and it's a tight fit. Raise it an inch, back it up an inch, raise it an inch, back it up, etc. with the jack on the subframe (lowering the whole car at once) it should be too hard. Not the safest.

 

^^
This. And like Brain said, you absolutely need a load leveler. I know I'm not adding to the info here, but I AM speaking from experience. Get a hoist on wheels if at all possible. I thought it was a delicate enough process without making it more awkward / complicated.

 

okay yeah, that makes sense. still will have to move the car and use a leveler.

 

I've never used a load leveler to remove or install a Miata drivetrain. You just have to know where to hook on the chain.

Using a fixed hoist and moving the car sounds like an absolutely enormous pain in the ***. I would try to find a moving hoist.

 

Savington is pro.

 

Srsly? Share, please.

 

Thanks guys..

I am trying to plan everything well ahead for the summer build project.
Hoists are damn too expensive here, and the cheap Chinese ones are over $300..

I am definitely getting a load leveler. They are cheap, like 25-30 bucks.

I have spent pretty much all my budget on the engine parts and the MS. Another 450 or so for a hoist and an engine stand, and my wife may just decide that is enough and stab me in the throat while I sleep. No. That is a joke. Likely, but still a joke. She would just barely maim me.

So, I am obviously building my own engine stand..
Might as well build a hoist, too..

Can you guys guesstimate how much lift the boom should have to clear everything?

I will use them once. Maybe I can sell them both afterwards...

 

We know.

I don't use a load-level, but they are like $20 at Harbor Freight and worth it.

 

I've never used a load leveler, never needed one.

+1 on this being a giant pain in the *** with a fixed hoist.

 

I used a fixed electric hoist once to pull my motor in my buddys garage. I was willing to tolerate it because he has a lift. It wasnt that bad. once you are finally ready to pull it just set her on the ground and roll back as needed. Only bad part was remembering which rope made the electric hoist go up and which was down..lol

putting it back in was a bit more of a pain, but once you get it in the general area you can jack the car back up and work it from there.

EDIT:

FYI he had a GREAT leveler which made it a lot easier.

 

I generally lift and lower the engine half a dozen times before I find the perfect angle. One of these times I'll mark it.

 

Maybe I'll just talk to the owner of the Mazda service again.
I have certain privileges there, and they let me use the shop area as I please.
He's just really cool that way.

The only reason why I keep insisting I should tackle this project at home is our business.
We (my wife and I) have a small - and profitable - business, providing communication consulting and translation services. We have a significant client base of mostly major corporations in the country, and we are always on call. There are too many times when we just work through the night. There may be an emergency report to be filed before 9 am in Japan, or some last minute board presentation to be prepared for the morning in Istanbul for instance. So, if a call or an email comes in, I need to be able to wash my hands and plop by the computer at a moment's notice.
Being away for a project like this means a 10 mile motorcycle trip to the Mazda service each way, every day I need to work on the car, and not being able to respond to emergencies..
And, no, I will not pay someone to build my engine. Not because I am cheap, but I just make it a matter of pride. That's what I enjoy, and I will do it myself, my way.

It is at times like this when I really miss the US. This is just not a very car savvy society here. People over here do not get into cars the way you guys do. Istanbul is very much like Manhattan in that regard. Everyone is constantly running around, and no one has time for hobbies, yard work, or any sort of recreational stuff. I seem to be the the exception to that rule. I wash my own car, and people just don't/can't get it.
Sorry for rambling, but I just get frustrated sometimes.
Thank you all for your responses.

 

How about removing the trans first then lifting the engine straight up? It's a pain in the dic k, but sounds safer than trying it the other way.

 

This is a decent solution. While I would never recommend this with a normal hoist, but with an immobile one it probably would not be to bad.

 

That makes sense, working solo with a ceiling hoist everything would be much simpler taking the transmission out first.