I picked up a 2005 project Prius off craigslist for a summer project. . This $750 Prius with 149,000 miles came with a unique engine modification, an engine pass through portal to reduce drag. I swapped engines this weekend after determining even quality duct tape didn't look like it could save this block (see picture below) 2005 Prius Engine by IMkenNY posted Jul 9, 2017 at 8:53 PM
I changed up a few things from other post that I read up on the forum dealing with engine swaps. I took the sensible route and lowered the engine and transaxle out the bottom of the Prius with only the front end raised on jack stands. I removed the sub frame with steering rack and struts (calipers removed but left connected to their hydraulic lines and half shafts disconnected from knuckle by disconnecting ball joints from control arms). This left a large opening in the wheel well to slide the engine/ transaxle through. I left the half shafts in the transaxle rather than drain the transaxle and remove them. (previous owner had the fluid drained and refilled 20,000 miles prior) The two surprises I encountered thus far were two seized lower engine to transaxle bolts (I'm sure road salt played a part) and just how much effort it took to separate the transaxle from the engine. I can imagine how difficult this would have been to do without dropping them both out as a unit. I still have many hours ahead of me hooking up all the wires, hoses inverter and sub frame but I'm happy to have the new engine and transaxle installed in the engine bay tonight.
Nonsense! All you needed to do was spray some WD-40 into the hole and then wrap it tightly with duct tape. That's what I did and my engine lasted another 100k.