Lower Cover = *pulls hair out*
Lower Cover = *pulls hair out*
Anybody else have trouble getting the lower cover off the engine? I've tugged and tugged and it's loose, but its stuck on there. Any one ever had this problem or know of any bolts that hide themselves? Also I think it is because I haven't dropped the oil pan, but I took off the first 6 and loosened all the ones I could reach but it still wouldn't budge. Thnx in advance.
first of all I am suprised you even got all the bolts off. I was taking mine off last week and half the bolts sheared on me. I could get to them from the top though so I could get the broken shafts out. But did you also take the screws out from under the front bumper? There are four bolts, I think, that look like they hold the cover onto the bottom of the bumper, they look different than the ones that hold it onto to the underside of the engine.
s13EastTN wrote:i've got it almost all the way off, it's just the darn oil pump is in the way, any way of getting that off w/o taking off the oil pan?
No. If I recall correctly, there are two bolts on the oil pickup that are keeping you from removing the front lower cover. You can unbolt the motor mounts from the crossmember, not the engine, and then lift the engine up enough to drop your oil pan. You'll need to remove the pickup to get the front cover off.
Someone please correct me if I'm mistaken.
Mojo's right. You actually don't need to unbolt both motor mounts though. You can unbolt only one and lift the engine a couple inches with a jack by the bellhousing. I found it easiest to get at the passenger side mount.
Make sure you label the bolts as you take them out so you know where they came from!! My timing chain project to way longer because I had to figure out where they all went because they were just sitting in a pile on my garage floor. Cheap sandwhich bags and paper lables work well for bolt organization.
Also, be sure to use quality liquid gasket and clean the engine and oil pan surface very well or you'll have leaks. I recommend Nissan gasket. I bought some on ebay for an awesome price. The Nissan red stuff is amazing gasket. Post any more questions you got.
-Brandon
Make sure you label the bolts as you take them out so you know where they came from!! My timing chain project to way longer because I had to figure out where they all went because they were just sitting in a pile on my garage floor. Cheap sandwhich bags and paper lables work well for bolt organization.
Also, be sure to use quality liquid gasket and clean the engine and oil pan surface very well or you'll have leaks. I recommend Nissan gasket. I bought some on ebay for an awesome price. The Nissan red stuff is amazing gasket. Post any more questions you got.
-Brandon
Thank you all very much. I figured I would have to jack up the engine, but stupid me forgot that you had to unbolt a motor mount :p so I jacked it up by the point wherethe transmission meets the block, and the whole car started to go up so I was like "well this isn't working" and took it back down :p
I assume you are refering to the two pieces called "gussets" they act like a brace. Yes you can remove those. Let the engine back down to rest and then remove those. That will allow you to get to the rest of the oil pan bolts. You also should make sure you have a nice thin 10mm socket and 6" plus extension all that attach to a 1/4 " wrench. for the back 2 pan bolts. It will make it easier than having to work a 3/8" size in there. Good luck, this is not a fun thing to do especially if you were on a slant like me at my apartment. 