The "The engineer was drunk, stupid bolt location" thread

[nefarious7907]

if you have access to a lift it is easy.
1 swivel & a 3ft extension & 1/2 inch impact.
i work & a tranny shop & these are the tools of the trade.

Is that with just dropping the trans support brace or are you raising or lowing the motor?

[Hallen]

The first three on your list i have down, still no fun though. I always dread the right front control arm because of that middle 19mm bolt. I have a technique but it still takes quite some time. I need a ratcheting 19mm wrench to end my pain.

Yeah, that one had me stumped too. If you are talking about the M20, then I think it is 22mm. I just broke the engine mounts loose, lifted the engine with a jack as much as I dared, spun the stupid engine mount heat shield out of the way and then dropped the right side of the subframe about 1/2. You just loosen two bolts on the subframe to do that. This gives you enough clearance under the exhaust manifold to get the socket on.

After that, I could easily get the socket in from above with an extension and a universal. You can even torque to spec this way :D

I hear that the M42 is more of a problem though.

I'll be doing the bitch clip in the next few days... wish me luck.

[willybustaE30]

if you have access to a lift it is easy.
1 swivel & a 3ft extension & 1/2 inch impact.
i work & a tranny shop & these are the tools of the trade.

Transmission, very top bolt..

4 extensions, 2 swivels, and a torx socket and about an hour of your time. Oh and infant hands would help too.

[Jordan325iC]

Subframe brake lines. Don't bother, drop the subframe

Bah. I'm going to argue this one.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=67812&highlight=center

I've done it twice. Once you have the right wrenches it takes no time at all.

[duodvlhntr]

Transmission, very top bolt..

4 extensions, 2 swivels, and a torx socket and about an hour of your time. Oh and infant hands would help too.

That's the way I did it. Be sure to raise the front of the engine as much as you can. It helps.

[xLibelle]

wiper assembly install
that shit is a puzzle!!!

[Jand3rson]

I take it you have cracked your pan?

I am in the middle of dropping my tranny and I just have the top bolts to get too and I am about ready to call around and see how much a shop would charge to finish this off, because my hands and forearms are exhausted.

Nope, didn't crack it. Yet.

And a shop isn't going to want to finish a job you already started and can't finish. If they do, they're going to rape you.

[nefarious7907]

Engineer was drunk when they designed the M20's oil pan. Worst designed part on the E30, period.

"Vee shall dezign zee most crucial part of zee engine to be zee lowezt part of zee car. Und not only zat, vee vill alzo make zee pan out of zee most brittle metal vee kan find."

I take it you have cracked your pan?

I am in the middle of dropping my tranny and I just have the top bolts to get too and I am about ready to call around and see how much a shop would charge to finish this off, because my hands and forearms are exhausted.

[Jand3rson]

Engineer was drunk when they designed the M20's oil pan. Worst designed part on the E30, period.

"Vee shall dezign zee most crucial part of zee engine to be zee lowezt part of zee car. Und not only zat, vee vill alzo make zee pan out of zee most brittle metal vee kan find."

[AndrewBird]

That godforsaken spring loaded jack-in-the-box pipe that connects the intake manifold to the oil pan on M20s can blow me.

Ah yes, the spring loaded tube-o-death.

I thought the fan clutch nut solution was known to everyone, including those who don't own E30's. I bought a 32mm wrench from HD or Lowes, wherever, don't matter, and ground it down to make it slim. Place wrench on nut, hit with heavy shot filled mallet. If this doesn't work then you're doing something wrong, I've never ever once been denied. Some are more difficult that others no doubt but a few good whacks and it's loose. This solution is the equivalent of a $5 whore, guaranteed. Heck I don't think I've ever even PB'd it beforehand (that would be the lube in this analogy).

Cheers.

Josh and I had one that was stuck and then some. I think we ended up destroying the watter pump pulley it was on so tight. But yes, your method will work as well generally.

[e30_kid89]

^^^Yep...that bolt made me cry. A bent wrench helped though.

[rede30]

The first three on your list i have down, still no fun though. I always dread the right front control arm because of that middle 19mm bolt. I have a technique but it still takes quite some time. I need a ratcheting 19mm wrench to end my pain.

[Elephant]

I'll also add to the list:

Fan clutch nut. A crescent wrench works or some have had luck finding a table saw wrench that is the same size. The advantage of this is the fact that it is slim. Another option is the tool made for this job. To keep the pulley from turning, either try wedging the alternator belt or buy the tool made for it. A LARGE pair of channel lock pliers around the water pump pulley will also work, but could/will scratch the paint on it.

I thought the fan clutch nut solution was known to everyone, including those who don't own E30's. I bought a 32mm wrench from HD or Lowes, wherever, don't matter, and ground it down to make it slim. Place wrench on nut, hit with heavy shot filled mallet. If this doesn't work then you're doing something wrong, I've never ever once been denied. Some are more difficult that others no doubt but a few good whacks and it's loose. This solution is the equivalent of a $5 whore, guaranteed. Heck I don't think I've ever even PB'd it beforehand (that would be the lube in this analogy).

Cheers.

[xLibelle]

Transmission, very top bolt..

4 extensions, 2 swivels, and a torx socket and about an hour of your time. Oh and infant hands would help too.

true to a T

[NC325iC]

that top tranny bolt is a bitch the first time around
2.5-3 feet of extensions rear support unbolted and hanging as fas as i dared let it and small arms and hands and a 2ft breaker bar