Engine Teardown

hey guys!! i have posted on here that my 91 metro wouldn't start, and so after a compression test, i concluded that two of the cylinders are low (second test shows that cylinder three dropped to 120, matching cylinder 2). cylinder 1 is healthy at 180. either way, i have begun to tear down the motor to take the cylinder head off, hoping it is a head gasket. anyway, i have had a few road blocks on the way....

POSITIONING CYLINDER 1 AT TDC---i have no room whatsoever to get a ratchet or a wrench down to turn the crankshaft. i figured if i took the right front tire off, i could get to it. but the wheel well covers it and i am clueless as to how to get to it. do i have to place the car on jack stands? any advice as to getting to it so i can time it correctly would be tremendously appreciated.

STUBBORN HOSES AT INTAKE--- i have the intake manifold unbolted and loose, but can't remove some hoses in order to completely lift intake out and away. any advice in loosening tough hoses?

this is my first major project that i am handling by myself and i appreciate any help i can get. thanks in advance guys!!

corey coby

you will have to remove the front cover off the engine to get to the timing belt. if you take off the 4 or 5 small bolts holding lower pulley on you can leave the big bolt in place, one you have the head off you can turn the big bolt with wrench. to loosen the hose on the engine (not the heater core) you can use a pair of pliers. position the center of the pliers around the hose and rock it back and forth, will usually break the hose loose. just don't apply to much pressure as you can rip the hose. also don't do this on the heater core hoses as you can squish the copper tube. i also find its easier to leave intake manifold on till you get the head off the motor and put it back on same way

Once you get the head reworked, check out the post about the improved Performance and Mileage mod.

Something else you can do is put the car up on stands and remove the plastic wheel well covers. This is easily done by press carefully on the center pin on the plastic tabs that are holding the covers in place. The center posts will depress into the tabs about an 1/8th inch or so then can be pulled out towards you using your finger nails. If you are carefull you can reuse the plastic tabs.
Using a deep well 3/8 in socket (17mm if I remember right) you can reach in and turn the engine shaft. Turn the engine shaft clockwise.
Good luck!

thanks so much for the replies. i am going out in a few minutes to buy some tools needed and then i will go back to work on it. i have yet to time it, take exhaust off, take distributor off, and timing belt. then i'll be to the head. thanks again guys i'll update on my progress later!!

hello again. today i set the timing and got #1 piston at TDC. i discovered this accidentally by turning water pulley bolts, but is all set now. that allowed me to take out distributor. now all i gotta do is remove last bolt on exhaust manifold (i cant' find the room to loosen it!!!) and take timing belt off, which even with the little shield removed i am having trouble doing. any advice on removing timing belt? thanks.

you can take the head off with the manifold attached to it. to take belt off find the idler roller thats halfway between cam and crank gear, has 2 bolts holding it in place. loosen both bolts and push it over till that side of belt is loose then tighten one of the bolts to hold it in place. if you do get head off and find out it is a burned valve you can go ahead and have head rebuilt but word of caution, i have had a few heads redone and put them back on the old engine and they started to use oil. if it does turn out to have a burned valve and engine has over 100k miles you might consider replacing the whole motor. the JDM motors are under $400 and it will cost you $200 to get the head rebuilt plus gaskets

After you have removed the cylinder head getting the engine to tdc is simple. Put the timing mark on the head with the notch on the cam gear facing upwards. then take a soft rubber mallot or the handle off of a hammer and push on one of the other cylinders until cyl #1 is at the top.

Voila! Once the #1 piston is at the top you are now at tdc. Congrats!!!

I've done this with my metro and it worked out great! That way you don't have to worry about having to turn the engine at the crank!