Motor Mount Bolts too long to get out?

[mharrison]

What is the magic trick to removing the 2 black bolts that go through the motor mount bracket in the middle of the Timing Belt cover? They're too !&$@(% long to come out. They hit the frame rail area. I've raised the engine, lowered the engine. Undone the front motor mount also. Still not enough room to pull these out. I've got them completely unscrewed, just can't pull the bolt out.

And, assuming I ever get this last bolt out, how in the heck am I supposed to get it back in? Can I use some just a bit shorter? I can't be the only one who's had this trouble.

Thanks
-Matt

 

[4UH8ERS]

What is the magic trick to removing the 2 black bolts that go through the motor mount bracket in the middle of the Timing Belt cover? They're too !&$@(% long to come out. They hit the frame rail area. I've raised the engine, lowered the engine. Undone the front motor mount also. Still not enough room to pull these out. I've got them completely unscrewed, just can't pull the bolt out.

And, assuming I ever get this last bolt out, how in the heck am I supposed to get it back in? Can I use some just a bit shorter? I can't be the only one who's had this trouble.

Thanks
-Matt

there should be a plug in the side of your fender well. just pull the plug and see if you can work it through the hole.

 

[Focker420]

there should be a plug in the side of your fender well. just pull the plug and see if you can work it through the hole.

Their is no way your going to get it through that hole atleast there was no way for me. U are talking about the upper engine mount bracket that goes through the timing cover. This is how i had to do it, i got a buddie or a helper to grab a nice big pry bar and i have a/c but dosen't work so i pryed between the a/c compressor and the inside of the engine bay. DON'T OVER PRY but i takes somegood force and one guy wiggle that sob bolt out.

This isn't the procedure out of the chiltion book but is what i did and it worked so good luck.

 

[dr1665]

BEST SOLUTION (POSTED MANY TIMES):

• Break all three out as far as you can get them.
• Push them back in (do not thread them).
• Drop the motor as far as you can get it.
• Use your right hand to "pump" downwards on the motor.
• Use your left hand to reach under the frame rail to pull out the lowest of the three bolts.
• Jack the engine up as high as you can get it.
• Remove the top bolt.
• Follow the hardlines down from the strut tower to the area.
• Feel between them for the recess in the fenderwell.
• Use a large screwedriver (wrapped in a rag) to *gently* pry upwards on one of them.
• (This is to allow access to the recess.)
• Now lower the motor back down *slowly* until the remaining bolt aligns with that recess in the fenderwell.
• Slide the bolt out while trying to pull it to one side or the other.
• Celebrate your success with a cold one!

 

[4UH8ERS]

Their is no way your going to get it through that hole atleast there was no way for me.

I took it out that hole.

 

[mharrison]

I was able to get one of them out. the one closest to the firewall remained. I finally wrestled out the mount, (with bolt still in it) along with the outer timing belt cover as a single unit. I have NO IDEA how I'll get this back in.

Did you guys cut the bolts down a bit to get them back in or what?

Any tips on getting all this (everything, not just that part) back together?

Also, the plug in my firwall area is too far forward for it to line up anywhere near the bolt. I pulled the whole wheel well liner.

-Matt

BTW, thanks for the input so far. It's nice knowing that I'm not the only one having this trouble!

 

[Focker420]

I was able to get one of them out. the one closest to the firewall remained. I finally wrestled out the mount, (with bolt still in it) along with the outer timing belt cover as a single unit. I have NO IDEA how I'll get this back in.

Did you guys cut the bolts down a bit to get them back in or what?

Any tips on getting all this (everything, not just that part) back together?

Also, the plug in my firwall area is too far forward for it to line up anywhere near the bolt. I pulled the whole wheel well liner.

-Matt

BTW, thanks for the input so far. It's nice knowing that I'm not the only one having this trouble!

Like i said earler bud my plug in the wheel well didn't line up eather so i had to pry the engine to the drivers side, when your at the point where you've tryed every which way to jack the engine. Just whip out the pry bar, What u got to lose.

Good luck again.
PS. Triple check timing befor putting the mount back.

 

[dr1665]

Did you guys cut the bolts down a bit to get them back in or what?

NO. DO NOT CUT ANY OF THEM DOWN AT ALL!

Any tips on getting all this (everything, not just that part) back together?

Reverse the steps in my proceedure. Put the cover on and everything, but leave that mount for last. I mean it. This mount supports the engine on that side of the bay. Those bolts thread into the block. If you modify those bolts in any way, you risk damaging your block.

We've all been there. Of all the annoying little things that hold you up when working on these cars, that mount is the mother of them all. I f*cking hate that son of a bi***, but you have to do it right. Now that I think about it, that last bolt to come out, comes out with the mount. By lining that bolt head up with the recess in the fenderwell, you give the mount and bolt room to swing out to the side so you can get the bolt free and lift it out. When you go to put it back in, put that bolt back through the mount and reverse the process.

Last summer, my tensioner went limp on me, allowing me to set timing, only to lose tension in the belt (and throw timing off) when I started the engine. In one week's time, a friend and I pulled that mount and redid timing eight or nine times. It wasn't until the last time that we discovered that method. I know your pain. There are times when you just want to get the largest wrench or hammer you can swing and go absolutely insane in the garage, beating everything into a pulp because why won't that motherf*cker f*cking come the f*ck out of the f*cking car already?!?!?!?!?!?!

You just have to take your time and do it as slowly as you can to force yourself to do it right. It sucks.

 

[mharrison]

So when I get done with this, will it be cheaper to have the body repaired, or put new fenders on to fix all the dents I've kicked in it?

This has got to be the most unbelievably stupid engineering setup I've ever seen. (I've been working on Porsches since around 85 and the Germans pull some nice ones from time to time, but this one really tops them....

 

[Focker420]

So when I get done with this, will it be cheaper to have the body repaired, or put new fenders on to fix all the dents I've kicked in it?

This has got to be the most unbelievably stupid engineering setup I've ever seen. (I've been working on Porsches since around 85 and the Germans pull some nice ones from time to time, but this one really tops them....

No buddie sorry to say but the germans got nothing compared to the brillant engineering of a SAAB. Omg u have no idea what your in for until you work on one. Just remember that when you put it all back together that the last bolt goes in first and with bracket as one peice. It takes some jiggles but u gotta work it in, just work it in to fit like that.

Natedizzle