A/C Compressor, Power Steering Pump, Timing Belt Cover

Back to it...

...Today, with some help from my neighbor Bob, I detached the Air Conditioning Compressor (you can't disconnect it entirely or all your refrigerant will vent into the atmosphere, then you'll have no cooling and destroyed ozone and its illeagal) and set it aside. Then I unbolted the A/C compressor bracket with the Power Steering pump still attached and took it out completely.

(A/C compressor bracket, power steering pump, powersteering pulley, idler pulley)

Then I got the timing belt cover off...

...so next I need to take the timing belt off...which is apparently more complicated than it sounds. Something about getting the timing marks lined up...Clearly I need to go read some reference material to figure it out.

Woah...slow down there motivator!

Ok, so as it turns out I got a little ahead of myself on the cylinder head removal front. I have discovered (thanks Bob) that I still have a compressor, compressor mounting bracket, power steering pump, timing cover, timing belt and water pump pulley to remove before the head will be clear for removal. I will try not to get frusterated, because this project just continues to get more and more complicated. Its a learning experience...which also happens to be a giant pain in my a$$!!

Valve Cover, Throttle Body and that DAMN Intake Manifold Bolt STILL won't budge

I've got a 5 day weekend to finish my project, so first thing this morning I jumped right in. Even with the penetrating oil to loosen the intake manifold bolt, I can't get that stupid thing to move, so I went to plan C. The intake manifold hangs off the right side of the engine and is attached to the head, so I can remove the throttle body and the valve cover to get to the head bolts, without actually having to remove the intake manifold (it just makes it a lot easier if I COULD remove it). This should allow me to remove the head, with the intake manifold still attached.

throttle body (at least that's what I think it is. I'm still learning the names of all the components. Please correct me if I'm wrong) detached and set aside (upper right hand corner).

I pulled out all but one of the spark plugs (this thing is a 4 cylinder engine with 8 spark plugs...I don't think that's normal). Anyway, this one particular spark plug melted the plastic cover on the wire that it was attached to and some of the plastic has melted over the plug, so I can't get a socket on it. I'll just pull the head with the plug still in place and see about getting it out then. I've got a bad feeling about that plug. I hope there isn't major damage there.

I disconnected most of the wiring (making sure I marked EVERYTHING) and then I pulled off the valve cover (pictured above)).

And that, ladies and gentlemen... 

...is what a single overhead cam looks like.

I also got the exhaust manifold unbolted, so as far as I can tell the next step is remove the head bolts and see if I can pull the entire assembly out with the intake manifold still attached.

Autozone, Intake Manifold Bolts and 4th of July

I swung by Autozone to grab a filter wrench, drain plug gasket and to pick the brain of my friendly neighborhood mech. Kirke has been incredibly helpful, since I'm doing this project on my own (My instructors up at WNC are gone for the summer) its been great to have someone to go to when I get stuck (case in point, immovable intake manifold bolt). If you need anything automotive related please go see the guys at Autozone on Rt 50 in Carson City, they are AWESOME! (no I didn't get anything for saying that.) Anyway, now I've got a couple ideas about how to get this intake manifold off and with a loooooong 4th of July weekend coming up, I am prepared to wail on this beast until it is fixed!!