Help with downpipe removal

[my85grandnation]

I am trying to get my stock downpipe off so I can install the new one I just bought. I have it all unbolted, but am not sure if I have to take it out the top or out the bottom. If you ahve any tricks I can try please let me know. Thanks Dusty.

 

[jays87gn]

I ended up cutting it in half to get it out. I didn't have the ground clearence with just jack stands to pull it out

 

[Boost231]

it comes out the top. pull the up-pipe off and unbolt the a/c compressor and it will come out.

 

[my85grandnation]

Is there enough slack in the lines on the ac compressor to just unbolt it and slide it out of the way? I just had the system charged, and I would hate to have it drained and unhooked now.

 

[Boost231]

yes lots of slack. if i had a scanner i would scan the pictures i took of when i did my dp and headers

 

[Turbo Riviera]

passenger's side motor mount removal helps too, but the biggest obstacle is the a/c and bracket as boost231 stated.

 

[Boost231]

see i told him im not sure if i got it out before or after i pulled the header. i have a picture of it out but the header is off as well. i would have thought i pulled the dp before the header but maybe not;

 

[my85grandnation]

I am thinking that maybe my motor mounts are the originals and that they are worn out causing the engine to sit lower. If the engine was an inch higher or tilted slightly to the drivers side then I think I could sneek the DP around the condensor then move the compressor and it would come out. Is there any way I can try jacking up the motor on the passenger side with just a floor jack since I dont have an engine hoist to see if I can get the clearance without having to undo the engine mount on that side? If its not enough with the mount still attatched how do I go about unhooking the mount? Do I go at if from the top or from the bottom? Sorry for all the questions Im new at all of this stuff as this is the first car Ive ever done anything like this on. Thanks Dusty

 

[alec296]

i took out the pass header and it came out top

 

[tb3]

If those are original motor mounts then I betcha the only thing holding that engine in place is gravity. another words, most likely your mounts are in 2 pieces. the factory mounts where very weak from the start, and any factory replacement mounts that I'm aware of are also very weak. (both of mine where in 2 pieces when I replaced, and its a low mile car. I assume your probably using a tie down to keep the engine from rocking? Put a jack under the oil pan with a piece of 2X4 in between jack and pan, (or something similiar to try to prevent damage/scratching your pan), and slowly lift up. If the engine starts 2 lift the car, then their still in one piece, but as you mentioned, if their old, probably getting soft and saggy. I wouldn't recomend doing that with the car on jack stands as it could shift the car and be very dangerous. and don't lift more than you need to so you don't take a chance of damaging anything else. Changing mounts is not a big deal at all if your slightly mechanically minded. Its easier and quicker on our hot airs vs the intercooled ones to change out imo because theres less stuff in the way on both sides. I recomend the hr mounts. You'll never replace them again, and you can delete any type of engine tie-down device.

 

[tb3]

I guess I really shouldn't go posting that pulling the motor mounts are easy. It can be very dangerous when the car is on jacks and you additionally start jacking the engine. And if you don't disconnect everything from the engine that needs to be disconnected, you can easily start breaking things when you lift it up to remove the mount. I can give you a kind of step by step to follow for removing them if you'd like.

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

Great advice for the newbies. The real answer is HRPARTSSTUFF motor mounts. They are expensive ($250) but they really work. These motor mounts stop all engine tork and save your your exhust headers from vibration. Good luck. Brad

 

[Boost231]

if your going to jack the motor up check the mounts. the HRParts mounts are the way to go.

 

[my85grandnation]

Well I tried a 2x4 on the oil pan with a jack and the whole car lifted so my mounts must be fairly good still. I guess what I will either do is rent a hoist or borrow one so I can unhook my passenger side mount to get the pipe in and out, or just undo the header. Im not sure which I will go with. Im guessing removing the header would be the less headache of the two.

 

[Boost231]

i would unbolt the mounts and jack the motor up. you will be able to tell once the motor is lifted if the mounts are good.

 

[tb3]

i would unbolt the mounts and jack the motor up. you will be able to tell once the motor is lifted if the mounts are good.

good point, thats definetly a more sure fire way to tell that thier not split.

 

[my85grandnation]

Well after another couple of hours of fighting with it tonight I finally got the mounts undone and lifted and tilted the motor enough to get the DP out. The first problem I ran into is that on the passenger side mount when I went to get the bolt out I couldnt get it pulled out. It was hitting on the timing cover where the oil filter mounts onto and I could figure out an angle to get it out from. Finally after fighting with it for about 20 mins it just popped out, so I hope it will go back in easier than it came out. I had to fight the pipe past the condensor and manifold still and then figure out how to twist it out once I got the a/c compressor out of the way. I hope to get my valve cover gasket changed out and get everything put back together tomorrow night. As for the motor mounts they have a few cracks in them but look pretty good still. I work for NAPA and I can get factory replacements for like $10 a side at my cost so if I decide to change those out while Im in there I will just go that way. Thanks for all the help. Dusty

 

[Turbo Riviera]

For 10 bucks a side, I'd change 'em. You have the hard one out... The driver's side is the easy one and usually the first to break.

 

[Boost231]

if you can get them cheap just throw a new set in.but them again you might have trouble getting the bolts out of the block.

 

[my85grandnation]

Yeah I think for now I am just going to put everything back together the way it is. I plan on hopefully rebuilding this engine before too long so I will just replace my mounts and everything else then. Thanks again for all of the help anyone and I will post if I run into any more problems. Dusty