How easy to remove pistons?

[pjevo]

Can anybody give me any information on the possibility of replacing the pistons - without engine removal ie access through bottom of car?
Thoughts please?

Thanks Paul

[steff]

Havent the faintest idea but if your working on the engine its probably best to remove the rear clam to get better access and even then you'll probably have to remove the engine.

[bogie]

yep - it can be done just with the boot lid off...havnt done it myself, but seen someone do it !

[B19GRR]

Hmmm, wouldn't like to do it myself. Been a while since I crawled underneath an Elise but basically you'd need to get the sump of so that you could remove the big end bolts. You'd also either have to pull the crank so you could pull the pistons out from underneath or remove the head so they could be pushed up.

To replace I believe you need to drop pistons in from above so the head will have to come off. If the heads off then the cam belt will be messed up so that will all need to be retimed.

I somehow suspect it would be simpler to just get the whole engine out. Course I'm lazy and I'd pay someone

Good luck if you do decide to go for it!

Cheers,
Rob