Resolved Engine Support during pan removal

[Mech Addict]

Hey all,
I'm getting ready to remove my oil pan so that I can remove the front case. For the timing belt removal I was under the impression that the engine must be supported by the pan. I currently have a block of wood and scissor jack keeping it up. The engine and trans are bolted together and trans mount and both roll stops are in place as normal. Do I still need to support the block, and if so, where is a good place to support? I'm also thinking that supporting from the pan is simply to make it possible to remove and reinstall the driver-side mount, and not needed to keep the engine in place during the rest of the repairs.
Thanks

 

[dwb]

You'll be fine with just the two roll stops and trans mount.

When I did my BS delete, that's all I had supporting it and I still had a hard time getting the front of the engine low enough to pull the front BS.

 

[99dsmer4g63]

Yes, for timing belt removal you just remove the driver side motor mount. What I like to do is remove the mount and place a block of wood on the oil pan with a jack. After removing the belt I will stick the motor mount back in.

I will then remove the pan and front case and do all necessary work that is needed with the engine mount temporarily in place. After all work is completed and the timing belt is ready to go back on I will then place the jack and wood back on the pan to install the belt.

You can probably let the motor hang on the tranny and center mounts but I like to do it my way and have had good results with it if you don’t mind a little extra time and effort. From my understanding a lot of people with these cars like cheap, fast and easy. I’m not one of them though .

-Daniel

 

[92AWDHX40]

Im not sure i would put the mount back i just never removed it from the enigne like that. I have no balance shafts do you. I never supported it when i removed the pan either.

 

[99dsmer4g63]

I don’t have balance shafts. I’m sure you can let the motor hang from the other 3 mounts with little to no ill effects but for a couple bolts and a couple minutes worth of time I like to stick it back in.

I’m sure a lot people just let it hang and have no problems but this is just the way I like to do things. Just my .02

-Daniel

 

[AWD-Tony]

It’ll be fine on 3 mounts.

 

[Dericsh]

You were thinking right, but doesn’t hurt to ask.

 

[97egl]

I use a block of wood and floor jack under the pan. But I don't do it for support I do it because I like to be able to raise and lower the engine a few inches. It can be very helpful to have the engine higher and lower especially when removing the bolts from the timing cover that are around the water pump pulley

 

[Mech Addict]

Thanks for all the input. I do have the balance shafts, and hadn’t really considered removing them unless I need to to get the front case off. I kind of assumed there simply wasn’t space without pulling the motor out. I’m going to inspect the pump gears and try check clearance on them. Take a look inside the pan. But mostly just replacing gaskets and seals. I will post a new thread about what special tools folks use to replace seals, and sounds like this question is answered. I’ll throw the d/s mount back in on the two exhaust-side studs if it doesn’t seem to interfere with the maintenance work I have planned (front case, cam seals). I have the mounting bracket removed on the timing side right now, as directed in the fsm.

 

[steve]

From when I did mine. Just the trans and two roll mounts holding it.