Can i possibly pull a 3.4 out the top from a 2001 olds sillouette van, i pulled one from a 2003 dodge caravan, it was tough but it worked. can it also be done in the olds. i dont have a hoist or accsess to one.

Its going be tough to pull out anything other than a small 4 cylinder without a hoist. You could use a comealong. Its like a small hoist, has a chain and a lever you can use to lift the engine. It has a hook on it to allow you to attach it to something.

But to be able to use it you need to put the car underneath something that is sturdy enough to support the weight of the engine, like a large limb on a tree or a metal frame of a garage or something like that.
And you will need a sturdy chain. The bigger the better. Attach the chain to your engine lift hooks.
Get some grade 8 screws,nuts and washers from home depot. Get the largest diameter screws that will fit through the links of the chain. Make a loop on each end of the chain by putting the screws through links and tightening the nuts on the screws. Put the loops you made on the engine lift hooks. Attach the come along to the tree or whatever you can find thats sturdy enough to support the weight of the engine with another chain. Then lift the engine out.

you will have to detach the ac compressor and power steering pump and tie them out of the way with pieces of wire. That way you wont have to discharge the ac system or drain the power steering fluid. Remove coolant hoses and fuel lines. And remove the half shafts for front wheel drive. Then detach the motor mounts/transmission mounts. Of course, theres a lot of other stuff you need to detach, but im sure you know that already.

You can rent engine hoists for like $35 a day from a Taylor Rental or other equipment rental
company. Rent it one day and take it back and rent it another day when you are ready to
put the engine or another engine back in.