With those alternator bolts I like to use a socket wrench and I put a ~2' long steel pipe on it so that I can get leverage and have my hand out of that tight space between the alt. and shock tower.

 

You know I was thinking about that but, now I don't know how I am gonna take that out because the bolt's head is all messed up. Even the intake manifold is giving me grief. I have to take it out to do my head gasket. All these rusty bolts in tight places are a nuisance.

 

I am gonna have to saw off these rusted screws, the one holding the alternator and the ones holding the catalytic converter. The old header, the downpipe and the catalytic converter might have as well being welded together because the screws and bolts holding these parts are so rusted they are like one piece.

Won't I be able to rent one of these saw guns from either autozone or lowes are something?

 

Ok. Header is out. I saw the screws connecting the downpipe catalytic converter. Now for the alternator and then on the crankshaft pulley bolt. I know I've heard that there is special tool to remove the crankshaft pulley bolt, well, I don't have it so any suggestions on other method I could use? Then I can be set. I can replace all parts that's been sitting there.

 

So, I have been thinking about the best way to go about this. I was at the autozone the other day and someone told me I could use either an impact wrench or one of those power drills/drivers for the pulley bolt. The impact wrench is cheap but, the compressor for it is another story. The ones for auto maintenance, 8 gallons and up, are $200 and up and not very portable. The electric drill/drivers on the other hand that is capable of using a half inch drive is only $69.99 at the walmart. Do you guys think I should buy the electric drill/driver? Will it be able to remove the crankshaft pulley bolt as I was told? I can't remember the exact specs of the driver but, it says something like 6.5 amp. I prefer the power drill over the impact wrench for portability so, what kinda specs should I look for if the one walmart have is not good enough?

 

I finally decided and got an impact wrench. I found an electrical one at the autozone and I also brought a close cut hack saw. The pulley bolt is out and the alternator adjusting bolt is about 1/3 cut. That one is a little tough being in a tight spot but, I will get it completely eventually and drill out the rest of the screw from there.

 

Got the pulley out and timing belt, might just forget about the alternator lock bolt after all unless I really need to to put everything back together.

 

got the head off. I don't see any crack in the head gasket. How do I know if its blown. And how do I drain the coolant out of the block?

Edit: I also removed the water pump and doesn't look damage either, look exactly like the new one that I am replacing it with. how do i know if this one is bad too?

 

Almost done. All I have left to do is bolt on the down pipe to the catalytic converter. I need to get the two bolts that connect them, one bolt for the distributor and cross my fingers and hope everything was bolted back good enough.

 

Don't re-use the head gasket. If you have taken the head off, regardless of what the condition of the head gasket looks like, you will need to replace it.