How to remove the engine dowel pin
 

Without using the factory SST

Thanks :bigthumb:

BTW the rear plate, housing and rotor look great if anyone is interested :D

well heres what i did to remove them....
i took a large bolt that will barly "thread" into the dowels,
and a flat bar of metal with a hole the size of the bolt threads in it,
try and turn the bolt in a turn or so into the dowel ,
then you yank up and down on the metal bar , and it acts like a puller....
***now this might kind of scrape up the dowels a bit however*** so do it at your own risk but it worked for my application!

[-]___ < flat bar *flat bar extends out on both sides*
|
| < bolt ( cant draw it right on here tho for somereason)
|| < dowel

Depending on how tight the dowel pins are in, you can use one of the tension bolts (18 of them). To do it, insert part of the bolt in and angle it so you get a tight fit. Then pull it out.... hope that works. If not, you can try lifting the engine sections out with a rubber mallet and then pull it out with your hands.

THAT'S ASKING FOR TROUBLE!
If you fuck up the threads on the tension bolt, you're compromising your engine staying together.

If you own an FC, any of the three engine mounts bolts that go though the oil pan underneath threads nicely into the dowel.
Tugging at the thread bolt usually removes the dowel pin no problem.

If you don't own an FC, then you need to find the right fastener from another source. :)


-Ted

Yeah, like a bolt from the rear suspension of a 1st gen RX-7. It's what I use. :)

I agree. If the dowel pins are in the engine really tight, I wouldn't try the tension bolts but if they're in there without a lot of pressure, it comes out really easy.

BTW, I had to use the rubber mallet to remove my housings and then pull the dowel pins out with my hands.

If you are having a LOT of trouble removing these pins (and it's not obviously a lot of grime and crud causing them to seize), be careful - there's a chance the housings are warped. :(


-Ted

You can make your own dowel pin puller. I use 2 old dowel pins and take one of the studs on the front iron that holds the power steering bracket on. Well the stud is the correct thread for the dowel pin. You thread it into one side of the old dowel pin and then weld it together with the other dowel pin and make a T-handle. Once you've got your T-handle you simple thread it into the dowel pin that's stuck and yank on it. If it's a little hard to pull out you can lightly tap the T-handle and it will come out. Never had problems getting dowel pins out with this homemade tool and the best part it's free because I have a bunch of extra parts laying around. Hope this helps someone out.

I appreciate the advice and I'll try some of the tips when I have some time to fool with it again. I'm hoping they will come out easy because the engine has about 1700 miles on it.

THANKS!