Rockers & Timing Belt with engine in?

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

When I pulled the motor from my '05, it was a bit painful navigating the front crossmember and the cowl, and I'm a little nervous about the difficulty of putting it back in. I'm wondering if it might ultimately save some trouble to leave the camifold and timing belt covers OFF, put the motor back in, then reinstall those pieces.

Does anyone have any commentary on any gotchas for doing this? Any annoyances working on the timing belt and valve train with the motor installed?

Mountainman · **Posted:** Wed Feb 05, 2020 6:03 pm

I find it much easier to put the head on, and then install the engine, but I don't pull out the radiator or anything in the front end.
Make sure you install the coolant octopus early on, or you'll have a really tough time installing it later. Also, if you can slip the 4 long AC mounting bolts in before the engine is all of the way in you'll save yourself a lot of hassle. One of them is impossible to install if the AC is already bolted to the block. And backing out the other 3 and starting over is a PITA. I use the shop crane to get the AC started because it can be so difficult to get the first bolt started.

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

I pulled the compressor out with the block, removing the low/high lines from it. The system was already empty, so there wasn't anything to preserve. When it goes back in, I'll be replacing the compressor/expansion valve/dryer because I just don't wanna deal with charging it twice.

Right now I have the head on, but no camifold. I'm thinking that extra 3" of vertical clearance would be real nice to have under the cowl when I slip the motor in. If it's not painful to install that with the engine installed, I think that would be useful. Of course going that route means holding off on the timing belt until the engine is in... but not having the timing belt in place nets me another couple free inches in the front.

TKB4 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 05, 2020 7:39 pm

Its not that difficult to do the rockers and Timing belt and replace the intake with the motor in the engine , but then I haven't done it any other way. You do have to stretch pretty far getting the back intake bolts in as well as cam sensor etc but doable. Most worrisome thing is putting intake back on but as long as you use the guide pins/bolts its not bad.

Mountainman · **Posted:** Wed Feb 05, 2020 8:12 pm

I did one fully assembled, ended up having to remove the fuel *rail (corrected) and pushing the radiator forward a bit, and I had to fight the oil pan and rocker cover binding up. Never again.
The main clearance issue is the radiator vs the top cross bar. If the radiator is out, then I would fully assemble except the fuel rail

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

The whole front end is gone - radiator, crossmember, headlights, all of it. I found it troublesome pulling the motor out, it kept getting bound up on the motor mount studs. That's what gives me pause about putting it back.

I guess I'll keep staring at it before I make a decision.

Mountainman · **Posted:** Wed Feb 05, 2020 9:05 pm

thesameguy wrote:

The whole front end is gone - radiator, crossmember, headlights, all of it. I found it troublesome pulling the motor out, it kept getting bound up on the motor mount studs. That's what gives me pause about putting it back.

I guess I'll keep staring at it before I make a decision.

I find installing the rocker cover in vehicle with shop crane easy, and the timing is easy as well. But, I'm a lanky 6' 4" dude.
You shouldn't have any trouble with the rocker cover on with the front end removed. And zero issues with the timing set on.

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

Makes sense. Thanks!

Do you have an approach on the motor mounts that works best? On the motor vs. on the chassis vs. slip them in later?

Mountainman · **Posted:** Thu Feb 06, 2020 1:19 am

thesameguy wrote:

Makes sense. Thanks!

Do you have an approach on the motor mounts that works best? On the motor vs. on the chassis vs. slip them in later?

I leave them in chassis. Should be pretty easy with the radiator gone. Migh have to jack the transmission up a bit, but watch out for pinching the wires between it and the body.

krb · **Posted:** Tue Feb 18, 2020 7:43 am

I just did it with no major issues so it can be done.

Only problem I had was I forgot to attach the coolant hose below/behind the intake and am now having to backtrack...

My66dodge · **Posted:** Tue Feb 18, 2020 9:28 am

Dang, when I to a rocker job I pull and drop the intake by hand and I leave the radiator in, just take the fan and shroud out and flip the wiring harness Ofer the right fender and bungee it there.. I can have the whole job done in 6 hours, then again I do this for a living. The hardest part is setting the intake on and not nocking the rockers off, often the intake set takes 2-3 try’s till I am happy with it

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TKB4 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 18, 2020 1:16 pm

Agree but I would allow at least 12 to 15 hours if you haven't done it before and probably about 10-12 if you have done it but not many times or recently.

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

I went ahead with the recommendation to build outside and install the whole thing at once. We'll see if I'm better at putting it in than taking it out.

It'll probably be April before I'm ready to do that. The Jeep is a low priority and parts are expensive, so it's slow going.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Tue Feb 18, 2020 9:47 pm

krb wrote:

I just did it with no major issues so it can be done.
Only problem I had was I forgot to attach the coolant hose below/behind the intake and am now having to backtrack...

If you are speaking of the EGR cooler feed hose on the center of the head under the intake, since you have the EGR blocked off, you can simply plug that connection and get rid of all the EGR coolant hoses. Replace the "Y" connector where the 5/8" hose ties back in with a straight 5/8" barbed connector as pictured below. They sale them at parts stores, building supply stores, and hardware stores.

krb · **Posted:** Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:31 am

I seriously considered doing that as I reassembled it. This vehicle is still new to me so I'm not real familiar with it just yet.

At this point I think it will be easier just to try and get that hose back on but I'll take a look as soon as I get a chance to get back at it.

Thanks,

Rockers & Timing Belt with engine in?

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