drsab2000

1999 Honda Civic EX 1.6L SOHC: So I'm doing a head gasket change and the manual says to remove the upper bracket (engine mount between the timing belt). To me it looks like that mount is bolted to the engine block, not the head. To remove the head, can I leave this mount on? I'm not changing the timing belt as it was done 20K ago and is fine. I was thinking that maybe the factory wants you to support the engine from underneath when the head is off. Any thoughts would be helpful!

Also, is there enough room to unbolt the intake from the engine and move it back instead of disconnecting all the lines to it and removing it from the engine? Second thanks!

mk378

Not sure what this book is, but you can and should leave the mount on. There is a hole in the lower timing cover to reach the tensioner bolt. Loosen the tensioner and pull some slack in the timing belt then tighten the tensioner to hold the belt slack while you remove the head.

And yes you can unbolt the intake manifold and push it back (with all the wires and hoses connected) far enough to clear the studs and take the head off. The manifold needs to be unbolted from the brace underneath as well of course.

drsab2000

mk378... Thanks for the response. The book I was referring to is the Honda/Bishko repair manual. I was able to remove both the upper and lower cover and move the timing belt off of the cam pulley. After removing the cam pulley, I can see that the mount is bolted to the engine not the head. My feeling is that Honda wants the engine supported from the oil pan because the head provides structural support and once it's off, the front of the block where the mount is attached could flex or warp from it's weight. I'm probably over thinking this but it can't harm putting a jack under the pan. Thanks again.

tony_2018

You're overthinking it. Just slide the belt off the cam gear and unbolt the head. Take the intake manifold with you that way you won't have to crawl around under the car just to unbolt it.

drsab2000

Thanks Tony. Just to follow-up: I was able to get that center bolt off the manifold (what was the engineer thinking!) and move the manifold back enough to remove the head. I didn't disconnect any hoses or lines from the manifold. I didn't have to remove the top mount. The only other issue I found was the dipstick tube o-ring was leaking a little. The tube came out of the block very easily so I'm wondering if this is normal. I'll get a new o-ring and see if that fixes the leak. Thanks for the feedback.

tony_2018

Oh **** forgot, loosen the tensioner. Will be easier for you afterwards to put the timing belt back on.