84dime

Ok so just refreshed my GF's D16 and realized that i put the pistons in backward. Now the pan and main cap are off and im wondering if i can pull the crank and leave the engine in the car?

DumpdEJ6

I don't see why not. I've put pistons in from the bottom before with no problems.

84dime

How did you get the crank out? it is trapped in there by the rear main plate.

24TEN

iTrader: (2)

I hate to say BS but...I'll be nice and say no way. Disconnecting or bolting in rod/cap from bottom yes, but that piston is not coming out from below the block nor is it being installed from below the block. No way.

OP if you're just looking to rotate them 180degrees you MIGHT be able to simply unbolt the rod/cap combo and push them up to rotate them. Not sure if this will require removing the head or not, but you may have enough room if you play with the crank (or remove the crank altogether). If you need to drop the crank I'm pretty sure you'll need to at least remove the oil pump, may or may not be able to get away with leaving the rear main seal housing in place (I'd imagine it'd need to be removed, I don't think the crank will come out at an angle). Doing it in this manner though wouldn't be ideal since you can't see if any of the rings are clocked properly anymore.

If you have the head off already, then don't bother removing the crank. Unbolt rods, push out the rod/piston assembly completely and reinstall in proper direction.

MRGRIM

iTrader: (1)

As above the piston will never com out from the bottom

just take the head off and do it right !!!

Do Not i said Do Not just unbolt and turn them as this will misalign the rings and your going to kill it real quick

DO it right or just get a match and petrol ....

delsolo95

to take out the piston youll need to take out the head too. take the motor out of the car. you can leave it in but to take out the crankshaft you will need to take out the transmission, clutch, then flywheel bolts. best to take it apart and double check everything.

how is the piston backwards? did you not put the arrow marks facing the timing belt side? or is it in the wrong order?

84dime

I guess i wasnt paying attention to witch way to face the arrows

Lessons learned:
1- Pay attention to which way the arrows are facing
2- Crank will not come out from the bottom without pulling the transmission.
3- Pistons will not spin in the block as the rods are wider then the webs in the block.(Plus as MRGRIM said you will mis-align the rings which i didnt even think of)

Thanks guys for the help

delsolo95

here is a write up on a dohc build for bottom end. its a generic for sohc. read thoroughly