alternator securing bolts

[thorby]

Wondering if anyone has experienced this and could advise...
On investigating why the fan belt had started squeaking, I found that the alternator was only secured to the engine by the adjustment bar, and that the two mounting bolts at the bottom were missing. On deeper inspection, the bolts weren't missing but were, in fact, sheared. There's a metal water pipe running in front of the two holes, therefore it looks very difficult to drill out (even if I had the skills or equipment)! Has anyone had this problem, does the engine need to come out in order to resolve it? I have a 1984, watercooled 1.9 boxer.
Thanks!

[kevtherev]

yes to get at the said sheared bolts with a drill engine has to come out... or at least lowered from the front.

usual procedure but not disconnecting the bell housing.

[Cafnod]

Can it be drilled out using a stub drill in a right angled chuck? If so lot less bother than moving an engine. Or failing that a carbide point in a die grinder or other rotary tool.

[kevtherev]

it looks very difficult to drill out (even if I had the skills or equipment)!

As you said
But lowering the engine is not a big job. A pain yes, just to get at sheared bolts.
But this is a VW rear engined removal.
2 water pipes ,4 wires, a throttle cable and 4 bolts.

try the "engine in" way first.
I would be lowering it

[thorby]

Thanks all!

[Cafnod]

it looks very difficult to drill out (even if I had the skills or equipment)!

As you said
But lowering the engine is not a big job. A pain yes, just to get at sheared bolts.
But this is a VW rear engined removal.
2 water pipes ,4 wires, a throttle cable and 4 bolts.

try the "engine in" way first.
I would be lowering it

Are the T25s as easy as a Type II then Kev? Ours is a 1.6TD and there looks quite a bit in the engine bay..............

[kevtherev]

I would say so Cafnod
I am amazed at how quickly and easily a WBX comes out.
I even replaced my own ... after helping mates twice with an engine replacement.

For instance,
engine ready to go in on a jack.
Took 45 mins from the jack to van to starting her up (2 of us)

[Cafnod]

Thats very good.
I have never worked much on T25s, did quite a bit on type IIs, in fact that was the first engine I ever changed, a mates uncles van I believe. I was very miffed to discover all engine changes werent that easy. I nealry owned a T25 Autosleeper about 11 years back but after agreeing the deal the nice people sold it to someone else while I went to the bank to get the money.

[kevtherev]

Thats very good.
I have never worked much on T25s

me neither, but I used to mess about with bike engines.
I love the fact you can drop the engine with everything attached.
Only ever fleetingly saw a T25 diesel engine, and I agree they are a lot more "involved"