My buddy has a 05' EP3 with a K20/K24 in it. The tensioner broke and we are gonna swap the head for a new K20A2 head. My question is can you swap heads without pulling the whole motor? The motor tilts back under the windshield and I see this causing lots of problems. Anyone with any advice is appreciated. Also if you know of any links to this that'd be great too!
Thanks Danny

 

Once you get the valve cover off there is plenty more room. You should be able to pull the head off. Just be carefully when removing to maneuver it out without banging it up lol

Why does he need to pull the head off though for a tensioner?? I've changed them before and never pulled the head off?

 

You should be able to pull it all off without dropping the motor. Just be glad you don't have one of the new Si coupes. Those things are hard to even change the spark plugs because of how far back the motor sits.

 

not really the shield comes off, on the firewall part, theres plenty room

 

there's a thread about this room issue with some pics, although it could've been from k20a.org...

 

We're assuming some valves were bent went the tensioner broke.

 

Yea I've actually dropped a motor in from the top of one of those by removing the metal shield! Honda even tells their techs to drop the subframe and set the car onto the motor though. I'd really didn't find it to difficult from up top.