Date:         Thu, 30 Sep 2004 03:27:40 +0000
Reply-To:     Zach White <zwhite@DARKSTAR.FROP.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Zach White <zwhite@DARKSTAR.FROP.ORG>
Subject:      Replacing Motor Mounts in an '84, help with engine timing
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Hi Everyone,

First, if anyone is near Portland, OR and can help someone who's never
set their timing before? I'm pretty sure I'm running rich as I can
smell gas in the exhaust. I tried checking the timing but my engine is
a curious beast ('84 rebuilt engine, the guy that rebuilt it used '85
parts, including the 3 track crankshaft pulley) and I'm not at all sure
I'm interpreting the data correctly. I have all the necessary tools
(including timing light) I just want someone with the experience that
can help me. :) I'm willing to head to anywhere along the I-5 corridor
from Eugene to Seattle. (Any excuse for a trip!)

Secondly, my next thing to do for the van is to replace my motor
mounts. The only problem I see is getting to the bolts on the top of
the mounting bar.

I looked at it for 30 minutes today, trying to figure out how I could
do this. I can't just drop the mounting bar and hope I have enough
clearance to get to them with a wrench because my bottle jack is too
tall (I only have ~ 2" of clearance with the jack all the way down).
I'm also wary that it'd take too much movement and I may inadvertently
break something. I looked at taking off the crankshaft pulley, but I
don't have the appropriate wrench and when I get my vice grips on it,
all I do is spin the pulley. I'm nervous about putting vice grips on
the pulley to hold it because I don't want to do anything to create a
dimple and the associated belt wear that would go along with it.

I took that same pulley off when I needed to replace my water pump, but
it took 3 of us to do it (two holding the pulley and me turning the
vice grips).

So, what's everyone else done in this situation? Am I stuck taking the
pulley off? If so, how? Is there a special tool I can order/buy for
this?

Thanks.

-Zach