1987 Escort Pony...Timing belt

[Derek2k3]

Hello, anyone wanna help me here? I cant seem to get the crankshaft pulley off. There is about 2 inches of clearance from the side of the pulley to the side of the car. I'm assuming i need a "special tool, like a spanner wrench but I'm not sure. If anyone knows. please post here! Need help. lol

[Davescort97]

On my 97 on that side the sheet metal on the wheel well is removable with 10 mm screws. I don't think an 87 does. I would drill a hole opposite the pulley and go in with a ratchet and extension. You could cut the sheet metal in the wheel well with a pair of tin snips and use some screws and washers to put it back. I don't know how it would be possible to get in there and and do anything at all with only 2 inches of clearance. Automotive engineers. You gotta love them.

[fishing1000]

Originally Posted by Davescort97

On my 97 on that side the sheet metal on the wheel well is removable with 10 mm screws. I don't think an 87 does. I would drill a hole opposite the pulley and go in with a ratchet and extension. You could cut the sheet metal in the wheel well with a pair of tin snips and use some screws and washers to put it back. I don't know how it would be possible to get in there and and do anything at all with only 2 inches of clearance. Automotive engineers. You gotta love them.

Back in 1992, the timing belt on my escort 87 was replaced. I dont remmember seeing the mechanic remove the pulley at all.

[A. Souphound]

Originally Posted by Derek2k3

Hello, anyone wanna help me here? I cant seem to get the crankshaft pulley off. There is about 2 inches of clearance from the side of the pulley to the side of the car. I'm assuming i need a "special tool, like a spanner wrench but I'm not sure. If anyone knows. please post here! Need help. lol

Some models have less than a 1" clearance between the crankshaft pulley and the chassis. All of these require a 'Special Tool' to remove the crankshaft hub bolt. If you want to go that route, KD tools P/N 3255 (19MM on one end, 1/2" drive the other) makes one. They are about $30. However, as Davescort97 suggested you could drill an access hole through the chassis for a long extension.

[edsel]

derek, same issues with my 88 escort. just drilled a one and half inch hole into the fender next to the crank pulley.( see my post under "edsel"). no problem. put a 19 mm socket on my half drive breaker bar using about a six inche extension. secured the bar against the pavement and just tapped the starter on and off. the bolt loosened right up. the pulley came off with a little tug after the bolt was removed. the harder nut to crack was the 10mm nearest the firewall holding the camshaft tensioner. had to take off the top motor mount bolts and jack the engine up two to three inches to get a socket onto it to loosen, used a quarter inch drive universal joint and angled the 10mm nut onto the bolt to loosen it. pushed the tensioner towards the firewall as much as i could. i am still trying to get the timing belt on without damaging it. anyway good luck if you are still working at this... edsel...

[steelaxen]

My brother has an old 87 escort, that isn't working... But I'll save that for a different topic. Anyway, all we did was put a jack under the oil pan and take off the left motor mount and lower down the engine.

[OverBoardProject]

With my 86 Diesel the book sayes to lift the motor. We got away with just tipping it down and a mild sheet metal modification