Do I jack the engine up or down for timing belt replacement?

[verlaryder]

1986 Corolla 4 door sedan 4ALC engine. I have no trouble with the supposidly "difficult" steps of the timing belt job like removing the crank pulley, but I have a terrible time figuring out the supposidly "easy" steps like whether or not the engine should be raised or lowered to gain access to the water pump pulley bolts and the lower and middle timing cover bolts.? Anyone know? I don't want to break engine mounts or bend anything. Also, does the AC compressor need to be removed to gain access to
all the timing cover bolts?

[lumberranger]

I've done this twice now on my 87 Corolla FX, I jacked it UP both times. (In the literal sense only!)

My memory's a little vague, but I think I did have to remove a bolt from the AC bracket to get the plastic cover off. The second time I was able to do just the timing belt without removing the engine mount from the engine, by threading the belt through the twisted maze. It was a little more complex the first time when I also did the water pump, I think I had to remove the mount. (I managed to strip a bolt hole on the aluminum engine, be careful!)

The one thing I clearly remember is that it wasn't easy! Took me about six hours the second time.

Now my power steering pump is going, any experience on replacing that?

[openflame06]

I remember my dad doing it once. He basically did the thredding method, can be annoying but it beats having to take so many other things off.

Im pretty sure he just too the covers off the belt and raised the engine slightly to do it.