I was talkin' to a buddy of mine, and he said the easiest way to swap the rockers would be to pull the heads and do it then... Is this the easiest way? If so, while the heads are off, might as well put some ARP bolt studs and play with the heads a little bit....maybe a cam.... it'* way too easy to get carried away with this stuff!

You'll need to pluck the engine for a cam regardless. Headers would be easier though

No reason to pull the heads to do the rockers. That'* opening up a lot of things for failures for basically no reason.

For the cam you can leave the engine in. Pull off the SC an LIM, Pull the timing cover, Drop the pass side of the subframe and slide it in. Can be done with jackstands and a floorjack. I hear it'* rather dificult though.

Yes you can drop the sub frame, pulling the engine is'nt easy wither.

Dont pull the heads for rockers only, get a spring compression tool and a spark plug air fitting to hold the valves shut while you work top side. Intense has an install kit for $80

You would pull the heads if the engine was a OHC configuration. You just need to get the valve covers off to get to the valve train.
For headers you really shoudnt have to remove too much, probably just some brackets.

Apparently you are also thinking cam...I didn't see it in your first post, but who knows.

Rockers and headers, I wouldn't pull or drop the motor. You can chang the front manifold in record time, the rear will be pretty easy just reaching back. Then go under and pull it out. Rockers are like others mentioned just under the valve covers.

Rockers are super easy. Not sure about the S2, but the front valve cover can come off in as long as it takes me to break out the 3/8" socket. The rear requires removal of the EGR Valve and PS Pump. However I have done both of those so many times, it doesn't take me longer than 5 minutes for the rear valve cover. This is just to remove it, not to do rockers.. that takes a little longer. I'm assuming with the rockers you are also going to replace the springs? Have fun with that . My retainers were stuck in there good, and it took quite a bit of effort to get them out of there. And they fought the whole time putting them back in too.

Again, because I have done it so many times, I can pull the entire exhaust off my car in under 2 hours. However, you must raise the car to get to the rear header to rest of exhaust, then you must drop the exhaust [two rubber hangars at about the middle of the car-length]. I couldn't get any of the exhaust pieces to come out under the car, they all needed to go up. But again, this could be different for the S2.

I'm not sure about the kit pdad is talking about. I think it would just be easier to bring each cylinder to TDC. That way the valves don't fall in.. that would suck.


-justin

Okay, I feel generous this morning. A little tip for removing the spring retainers. Get the little arms that go in the springs as low as possible [not quite all the way down, you'll know]. Then compress the spring as much as possible, and push DOWN to increase pressure, then rock the valve spring compressor around and the retainers SHOULD come out. I didn't need a magnet, because mine were really stuck in there. No need to put a lot of pressure rocking, but pushing down you need quite a bit of strength. Not sure how easy that would be considering the heads are on the car, but when off the car, it was pretty easy.

According to my mechanic buddies labor book, warranty pays 1.0 hours to do valve covers on S2. Shop is 1.7 hours. It took me realistically about 4 hours not hurting myself and starting with a hot motor, add on plugs and wires.

Front cover was easy, loosen the front motor pull bracket, then two bolts to loosen the coil pack and it swings up out of the way.

Back cover...hehehe Pull the motor guard that the O2 is hooked onto totally off, 2 nuts.I pulled two bolts and one nut that hold the map sensor and egr guard. Then wiggle it out. Loosen the engine pull bracket and cover is off.

Very easy to do rockers only but you should change springs at the same time and then you need to do what PDad recommended. No need to pull heads for rockers, springs or headers.....or even cam for that matter.
Unless you have high mileage, or are swapping them out for ported units, I'd leave the heads alone.

sweet....sounds like it'll be easier than i thought. Thanks for all the help. I'll keep y'all updated.