Mitsubishi Repair: 1996 2.0 non-turbo eclipse left engine mount bracket, crankshaft pulley, engine oil pan

Question
Hi,
I need to change the water pump and at the same time I will change the timing belt.  The problem that I have is that I can't get the left engine mount bracket off.  The bolts are too long to be removed.  I have tried to lower the engine, but it doesn't go low enough.  Should I remove the center engine mount brace that runs from the front of the car to behind the firewall underneath the motor?  Please tell me the secret as this is a repair that is supposed to be possible with the engine in the car.
Thanks - John

Answer
John: I hope you got yourself a repair manual for your car, as it would explain to you. Most parts stores sell them for around $20.00 and well worth the money. That all you are to remove is the left motor mount. First line in my repair manual is to be sure to support the engine with a block of wood placed between the floor jack and the engine oil pan. Then the book goes on with this... remove the clamp and bracket for the power steering pressure hose(if equipped) and the clamp for the air conditioning hose, if equipped. Remove the drivebelts and the tensioner pulley bracket, remove the tensioner pulley assembly, remove the splash pan from beneath the drivebelt end of the engine, remove the water pump pulleys(note: the smaller of the two pulleys run the power steering pump), loosen the large crankshift sprocket bolt in the center of the crankshaft pulley, It might be very tight, so, to break it loose, wrap a rag around the pulley and attach a chain wrench, slip a 1/2-inch drive extension through the hole in the inner fender and into the sprocket bolt head, turn extension with a breaker bar. If you are unable to loosen the bolt due to the chain wrench slipping, you can prevent the crankshift from turning by having an assistant wedge a flat-blade screwdriver in the flywheel/driveplate ring gear teeth. To do this, you must first remove the flywheel/driveplate cover, next, remove bolts and remove the crankshaft pulley, remove the retaining bolts from the upper and lower timing belt covers and gaskets, remove the two bolts and lift off the automatic temsioner, make a mark on the timing belt in the direction of rotation so it may be reinstalled in the same direction in event that timing belt is reused, remove the tensioner arm bolts and the tensioner, then remove the timing belt. Let me say this is not an easy job, you need about eight hands, with very small fingers and be able to almost stand on your head to get at some of those bolts and pulleys. I say good luck to you and God bless: Linda