2.4L Twin cam engine.
Does the engine come out the top of the car?

If you are doing it in your garage I would assume coming out of the top would be easiest / the only option unless you have a lift.


Not 100% sure but that's my $.02

out the top is the way I would go :)

the manual says general motors prefers the motor to come out the bottom?

I Just changed my engine in my 1996 Grand Am GT. I have a 3.1 v6...!
I had no problem taking it out the top. Just time cunsuming...! But just be careful
not to bump the tubes coming out of the firewall for the heater core... Mine were plastic and I broke them. You can't replace just the tubes so I had to get a new heater core. The heater core was in great shape just had 2 broken tubes. I picked up a new one at AutoZone that has aluminum tubes. Works great. But, the R&R to replace the core took a very long time. I never took a motor out the bottom of a car, But I heard it's harder then people think. Besides, I didn't want to mess with the strutts. And, I hear that strutts R&R is very difficult. I found no problem taking it out through the top. It took my brother in law and I two days (one week end)...! I would never try to do it with out help...!!! Make sure you get all the sensors hooked up correctly. There are a couple that look like they could interchange. I'm not sure how the tempurature sensor is in your car, But mine had three wires to it coming through the harnes with the fuel injectors. The motor I put in only had two wires. So I just changed the sensor! Just a word of advise, Try to put all new sensors in and take it to a garage to make sure the cars computer recognizes the new sensors. unless you have a way at home to hook it up to a computer. Not a Home PC! It's better to get new sensors in while the motor is out then to try to do it later. Also, make sure you get all the grounding wires hooked up. I missed one and it was havoc on the project.
The reason I changed the engine was because the intake gaskets were known to go out in those cars up to 2000 when they remanufacured them. My whole engine was filled with that pink antifreeze and oil. What a greasy looking mess. It was even in the air intake! So, If I were you I'd change it while you have it out. I know yours is a 2.4, But I would do some research on those type engines... I did! I don't know where you are, But I talked to AutoZone here in Little Chute Wi. and that's how I found out about the intake gaskets.
Good luck!
Bill (96 Grand Am GT)

Thanks for sharing your experiences with it :)

I Just changed my engine in my 1996 Grand Am GT. I have a 3.1 v6...!
I had no problem taking it out the top. Just time cunsuming...! But just be careful
not to bump the tubes coming out of the firewall for the heater core... Mine were plastic and I broke them. You can't replace just the tubes so I had to get a new heater core. The heater core was in great shape just had 2 broken tubes. I picked up a new one at AutoZone that has aluminum tubes. Works great. But, the R&R to replace the core took a very long time. I never took a motor out the bottom of a car, But I heard it's harder then people think. Besides, I didn't want to mess with the strutts. And, I hear that strutts R&R is very difficult. I found no problem taking it out through the top. It took my brother in law and I two days (one week end)...! I would never try to do it with out help...!!! Make sure you get all the sensors hooked up correctly. There are a couple that look like they could interchange. I'm not sure how the tempurature sensor is in your car, But mine had three wires to it coming through the harnes with the fuel injectors. The motor I put in only had two wires. So I just changed the sensor! Just a word of advise, Try to put all new sensors in and take it to a garage to make sure the cars computer recognizes the new sensors. unless you have a way at home to hook it up to a computer. Not a Home PC! It's better to get new sensors in while the motor is out then to try to do it later. Also, make sure you get all the grounding wires hooked up. I missed one and it was havoc on the project.
The reason I changed the engine was because the intake gaskets were known to go out in those cars up to 2000 when they remanufacured them. My whole engine was filled with that pink antifreeze and oil. What a greasy looking mess. It was even in the air intake! So, If I were you I'd change it while you have it out. I know yours is a 2.4, But I would do some research on those type engines... I did! I don't know where you are, But I talked to AutoZone here in Little Chute Wi. and that's how I found out about the intake gaskets.
Good luck!
Bill (96 Grand Am GT)
Hey,
I have the 97 2.4 L Twin Cam stick and I am in desperate need of an engine with under 80,000!! If anyone could help me please let me know Thank you

GT5..