I have a 95 2.2 sunfire, 5 speed and i've got the cylinder head off, replacing it with a new one. I also need to replace a piston, but the motor needs no machine work, so I just want to leave the motor in the car. I am removing damaged wiseco pistons, and just replacing them with exact duplicates. I will use the same rings that are in there since they are only like 500 miles old. The piston walls are perfect so they will keep a good seal.
My problem is that, with the cylinder head removed, the upper motor mount is not in place. Now, if I want to remove the oil pan, I'm going to have to remove the lower mount too to get the oil pan to clear that U shaped lower mount point.(right?) Well, needless to say, i don't think the two tranny mounts are going to hold up the whole engine. Where have other supported the motor when doing something like this? I was looking and i think the best place is where the starter motor bolts up to the block, next to the transmission.
Also, wiseco is making me order 4 pistons since they are not standard dimension, so, even though only one piston is damaged, i'll have to get 4. Should I just go ahead and switch all 4 out? The current ones in there do have some material removed to make them all the same weight, but the new ones will all have the same weight. So, I can remove some material from one of the new pistons, and only put that one in, or just change all 4. What do you think?
I would just change all four pistons while you're in there. As for supporting the engine, maybe a jackstand if you can find an area that's inobtrusive. I'm not as familiar with the 2.2's as I am with the 2.4's, but on the 2.4, there's a metal 'loop' on the passenger side of the engine that's strong enough to use a chain hoist to hold it up.
Hmm, does the metal loop make a circle, or like a U. I have a U shape that goes under the oil pan, but I think I have to remove that in order for the pan to clear the crank. Other then that, i think If i bolted the power steering bracket back on, and then used a chain from above to support it, that would be ok, but Its not easy for me to get the engine hoist to where the car is. So, I'd prefer not to go that way, but I suppose that is an option.
The one on the 2.4's is a complete circle. It's up on the top side of the engine though. Anorher way could be to use the head studs to support the engine. I'm not sure about the structural integrity of the power steering bracket, but that may work.
before replacing even one, why did that one fail?
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valve broke off into it. You can read about it
here
But that was not timing related. It was bad rocker stud related.
Am I the only one that ever ran into this situation? No one has any input? or suggestions. I mean, I'll probably just a high lift jack on the engine, right where the starter bolts up, then remove the pan, do my business, put the pan back on, and the lower motor mount back on, then remove the jack.
Anyone else have a suggestion?
I'd put a 2x4 across the fenders, wrap a chain around it, and stick a spare headbolt through the chain and thread it into the block.
Also, I'd replace all 4 pistons.
fortune cookie say:
better a delay than a disaster.
Thanks for the tip. I think i'll do that, and what i was originally planning. Give it an added lavel of safety. The lst thing i want is for a large engine to come falling onto my chest with me under it.
