Pulling my first engine

KAZMIK · 01-03-2021, 09:27 AM

I'm pretty savvy when it comes to cars one thing i have not done is pull an engine. I have to replace the head gasket. I have done a lot of research but I'm still a little nervous. any tips or tricks?

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snow_bound26 · 01-03-2021, 10:51 AM

Take your time, go slow and triple check everything. For me I start by disconnecting the battery, then draining oil and coolant. Then remove the TMIC. From there I start removing/unplugging things on the driver side rear of the engine and work clockwise to the passenger side rear of the engine. Then go counter clockwise back to make sure everything is disconnected. Then move under the car. Then remove the radiator. Remove pitch stop. Tie engine to firewall with the upper pitch stop bracket. And finally remove starter and trans bolts.

Good luck and have fun with it. Once you've done it you'll see that these cars are pretty straight forward to pull an engine.

KAZMIK · 01-03-2021, 04:19 PM

Thanks I appreciate the encouraging words.

Fndragn · 01-03-2021, 04:54 PM

Take pictures, label as much as you can with painters tape or something similar. Put bolts back where they came from if possible during tear down, label and bag everything that can't be placed back. Label and take more pictures than you think you need. An extra 30 minutes on the front end will be invaluable on the tail end.

TwistedAxles101 · 01-03-2021, 11:19 PM

If you are pulling the engine from a 02-05 WRX or any STi, you need to disconnect the clutch fork. Once you remove your starter there will be a hex plug behind it, remove it. Take a long bolt from your plastic timing cover and thread it into the pin inside the hole you removed the hex plug from. Pull on the bolt until you pull the pivot pin out completely. This is a 100% necessary step.

Another necessary thing- you must use something (jackstand or jack depending on weather you have a lift or not) on the transmission to lift the engine mounts out of the subframe.

rtv900 · 01-04-2021, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fndragn

Take pictures, label as much as you can with painters tape or something similar. Put bolts back where they came from if possible during tear down, label and bag everything that can't be placed back. Label and take more pictures than you think you need. An extra 30 minutes on the front end will be invaluable on the tail end.

^right here

baggies and a sharpie
I even use egg cartons for certain items that need to go back exactly where they came from like lifters or rockers or something.
You always think at the time you'll remember and then 15 sets of fasteners later you completely forget where the first 5 sets went.

NewSilverWRX · 01-04-2021, 09:57 AM

Find the factory service manual. Deviate from the process when it doesn't make sense. Keep power steering and ac intact. Get a quality putty knife you can hammer on to separate engine and trans. Make sure you have exhaust gaskets for wherever you break it apart. A way to control tilt on the hoist is helpful on the way out and invaluable on the way back in. Use tin foil to fashion a channel to keep the coolant off everything when draining.

Markopolo400 · 01-04-2021, 02:53 PM

Follow the correct procedure for tightening the head bolts, it's very specific and detailed.

Spendawg · 01-10-2021, 08:54 PM

Pictures are key and put nuts and bolts in labeled bags. Makes putting everything back together much easier

1970something · 01-19-2021, 04:20 PM

Subaru Only channel on Youtube has a playlist for his 1998 Impreza with EJ205. There are a bunch of videos in the middle of the playlist where he goes through each step of removing the engine. They are VERY detailed and thorough so will hopefully help:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...sOJlyLJ4mz7kzW

01-03-2021, 09:27 AM	#1
KAZMIK Scooby Newbie Member#: 521394 Join Date: Jan 2021 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Seattle Vehicle: 2004 WRX World Rally Blue	Pulling my first engine I'm pretty savvy when it comes to cars one thing i have not done is pull an engine. I have to replace the head gasket. I have done a lot of research but I'm still a little nervous. any tips or tricks? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

01-03-2021, 10:51 AM	#2
snow_bound26 Scooby Specialist Member#: 395793 Join Date: Jul 2014 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: SLC and Lake Placid Vehicle: 2005 92x Aero Beige	Pulling my first engine Take your time, go slow and triple check everything. For me I start by disconnecting the battery, then draining oil and coolant. Then remove the TMIC. From there I start removing/unplugging things on the driver side rear of the engine and work clockwise to the passenger side rear of the engine. Then go counter clockwise back to make sure everything is disconnected. Then move under the car. Then remove the radiator. Remove pitch stop. Tie engine to firewall with the upper pitch stop bracket. And finally remove starter and trans bolts. Good luck and have fun with it. Once you've done it you'll see that these cars are pretty straight forward to pull an engine.

01-03-2021, 11:19 PM	#5
TwistedAxles101 Scooby Newbie Member#: 379235 Join Date: Jan 2014 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Waynesboro VA Vehicle: 2002 Impreza WRX Blaze Yellow	If you are pulling the engine from a 02-05 WRX or any STi, you need to disconnect the clutch fork. Once you remove your starter there will be a hex plug behind it, remove it. Take a long bolt from your plastic timing cover and thread it into the pin inside the hole you removed the hex plug from. Pull on the bolt until you pull the pivot pin out completely. This is a 100% necessary step. Another necessary thing- you must use something (jackstand or jack depending on weather you have a lift or not) on the transmission to lift the engine mounts out of the subframe. Last edited by TwistedAxles101; 01-03-2021 at 11:25 PM.

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01-03-2021, 04:19 PM	#3
KAZMIK Scooby Newbie Member#: 521394 Join Date: Jan 2021 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Seattle Vehicle: 2004 WRX World Rally Blue	Thanks I appreciate the encouraging words.

01-03-2021, 04:54 PM	#4
Fndragn Scooby Newbie Member#: 470845 Join Date: Jul 2017 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Iowa Vehicle: 2011 Sti DGM	Take pictures, label as much as you can with painters tape or something similar. Put bolts back where they came from if possible during tear down, label and bag everything that can't be placed back. Label and take more pictures than you think you need. An extra 30 minutes on the front end will be invaluable on the tail end.

01-04-2021, 09:57 AM	#7
NewSilverWRX Scooby Newbie Member#: 58485 Join Date: Mar 2004 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Chicago IL Vehicle: 2004 RASC.207 WRX 5M PSM	Find the factory service manual. Deviate from the process when it doesn't make sense. Keep power steering and ac intact. Get a quality putty knife you can hammer on to separate engine and trans. Make sure you have exhaust gaskets for wherever you break it apart. A way to control tilt on the hoist is helpful on the way out and invaluable on the way back in. Use tin foil to fashion a channel to keep the coolant off everything when draining.

01-04-2021, 02:53 PM	#8
Markopolo400 Scooby Newbie Member#: 452996 Join Date: Aug 2016	Follow the correct procedure for tightening the head bolts, it's very specific and detailed.

01-10-2021, 08:54 PM	#9
Spendawg Scooby Newbie Member#: 519924 Join Date: Nov 2020	Pictures are key and put nuts and bolts in labeled bags. Makes putting everything back together much easier

01-19-2021, 04:20 PM	#10
1970something Scooby Newbie Member#: 374771 Join Date: Nov 2013	Subaru Only channel on Youtube has a playlist for his 1998 Impreza with EJ205. There are a bunch of videos in the middle of the playlist where he goes through each step of removing the engine. They are VERY detailed and thorough so will hopefully help: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...sOJlyLJ4mz7kzW