Had the timing belt break on my 1999 forester. Just pulled both cylinder heads off to look for any valve or piston damage. The right side head came off without much fuss but the top rear head bolt on the left side hits the frame of the car about a 1/2 inch short of being completely out of the block. It was dark, cold and starting to rain so I just cut that one bolt so I could get that head off. When it comes time to put the dam head back on am I going to have to remove motor mounts so I can shift the engine over to get the new bolts in or did I screw up?

 

Thanks

Yes, unbolt the motor mounts, and the pitch stopper, and jack the engine up. I usually use a floor jack with a rubber pad, or something so I don't damage the oil pan (Be carful not to jack it up too far, and pop the cv's apart) You will be able to jack it up and slid it around some that will give you enough room. I usually have to leave the bolts in the head while taking them in and out as well, there are a few you can put in after, but the majority of them have to go in and out with the heads 

Scat;  Surprised you tried this without taking the 2 motor mount nuts off ! You already have the exhaust down and out of the way . One 14mm nut on each side for the motor mounts and one 14mm bolt & nut on the pitch stopper. raise it up and you will have a much easier time  of it.  Like 1982 said let the bolts ride in the head as you remove or replace makes life a little easier !

install the head, first half of bolt, then slide the other half of bolt in place and weld it back togetehr insitu. LOL

 

yep - it's really simple.  2 14mm nuts underneath and pitch stopper - it's only three fasteners and probably takes 4 minutes to remove them - less time than getting out a saw and cutting a head bolt.

Scat;  Surprised you tried this without taking the 2 motor mount nuts off ! You already have the exhaust down and out of the way . One 14mm nut on each side for the motor mounts and one 14mm bolt & nut on the pitch stopper. raise it up and you will have a much easier time  of it.  Like 1982 said let the bolts ride in the head as you remove or replace makes life a little easier !

Didnt see this coming. Did the right side no problem. I thought the left side was going to go the same way. Once I saw things not going well it started to rain so I just had to do what I had to do to get it out and button things up for a few days of bad weather. Thanks for the info people