Pontiac Repair: 92 Grand Am motor mount 2.3 soc, head gasket replacement, timing chain cover


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Followup To
Question -
Head gasket replacement. 2.3 L SOHC. Manifolds removed. Passenger side engine mount? The half (with the rubber bumpers) attached to the wheel well was easy to remove. The steel plate that is bolted to the side of the engine and bolted to the mount is another story. It has to come off to get at the timing chain cover. Have used WD-40, Liquid Wrench, and closed end of 15 mm wrench with a pipe extension. Do I need heat? Would a Benz-o-Matic be hot enough? Are the three 15 mm bolts reverse threaded? Not sure how far I can raise or lower the engine without damaging some trans and/or axle parts. Only about an inch and a half between inside of wheel well and timing chain cover and that plate is in between. Already just slightly rounded one bolt head. Any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks in advance.  Keith
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Answer -
Sounds like you have tried a lot already. About the only other input I can give you is that I would try to find a ratchet/shallow socket that I could possibly squeeze in there because than you have a 6 point grip on the bolt which is much less likely to round off the head compared to a 12 point wrench and you are able to apply more torque that way. You can try heating them up but just propane isn't very hot. If you have a propane/oxygen torch, that might do it, but mapp gas would be better. Also you'd be surprised how far you can tilt a motor up before you risk damaging the axles, might be just far enough to get a socket on an extension and them use an impact gun on it because it sounds like they just need to be shocked out instead of just trying to pull them out. Hope this helps a little and good luck :)

Thanks for the quick reply. Got a 6 point wrench and a propane torch. Will give it a shot. The front end is up on jacks withe the wheels/axles/struts in the down position so may also remove bottom mount and raise control arm/axle and see how far I can raise that side of the engine. Hope it doesn't want to tip too much forward or back. Will reposition the jack under the oil pan and trans pan with my best guess.

Answer
One last piece of advice Keith, it may sound weird but try to tighten the bolts a little first before trying to loosen them. If you can get the bolt to start moving in this direction they will come out easier and this will greatly reduce the chances of rounding off the head or worse breaking the bolt off in the hole.