Help me with the 420A!

[JoeShmoe]

I just spent 9 hours with my buddy trying to take my timing belt because the haynes manual said the timing belt could be replaced with the engine still in the car. Has anyone been able to do this, i tried raising and lowering the car and I don't see any possible way of accoplishing this.


I can't the bolts off of the motor mouint plate. How the hell can they come out, or is it impossible?




I can't drop the engine enough to clear the crank pulley which I need remove to get to the belt,w pump, and tensioner.





Someone please tell me if the engine can stay in the car in order to accomplish these tasks.

[david-b]

You have to take off the front and tranny motor mount first. Then put a jack under the oil pan with a block of wood and raise or lower the motor. 8tll be rotating on the back mount so you can move it all you want

[JoeShmoe]

Is it strong enought to hold up the weight? I had only taken the nount for the passenger side, I already have the block of wood holding it up by the pan.

[gthompson97]

I never removed the tranny mount, or the front mount anytime I've done them in the car. That bolt you're trying to get out that's for the passenger mount is a BITCH, it takes alot of wiggling the bolt/mount plate around and jacking the engine up/down to get it out, but it will eventually come. IIRC, you have to wedge the bolt in-between the vacuum lines and then move the bolt either forward or backward to get the plate halfway out, then you have to push the bolt back into the hole and twist the plate sideways, pull the bolt all the way out, and then pull the rest of the plate out, that's off of my memory though.
After that, the engine should come down just enough to barely get the crank pulley out (you have to "wedge" it out at an angle), and then you should be able to get at the timing cover and all the other good stuff. It's definitely not an easy job doing the timing belt with the motor in the car, but it is do-able.

[david-b]

You don't have to take off the other mounts, but it makes it much easier. Much much easier IMO.

And yes the jack can hold up an engine in place. Think about it, it could hold up the whole weight of the car, so it can hold up a little engine.

[JoeShmoe]

Well I was refering to the single motor mount at the back Dave, but thanks guys. Here I go, wish me luck.

[david-b]

Ah. My bad. As long as you have the jack underneath the motor it'll be perfectly fine. Good luck

[SilvrEclipse]

I did mine with the motor in. Yes it can be a PITA, I took the passenger mount, front mount, and rear mount off to make it easier. You should be able to push the motor down enough to get the crank pulley off.

[JoeShmoe]

Son of a bitch! This thing is really pissing me off. I can't get it, low enough. I think I need a ower jack than the one I am using.