Rotating the V6 in U-platform minvan

[Aitkenhead]

I purchased a 2003 Montana ten days ago, which has the LA1 engine. It has been years since I've owned a vehicle with an innovative engine. Looking under the hood I realized the firewall side of the engine was apparently inaccessible for all sort of common maintenance (like changing spark plugs) so I bought the Haynes manual to see what they said. I was astonished to read about "rotating" the engine by releasing torque struts, tying onto the engine with a strap wrench, and literally rotating it forward.

I'm stumped. The directions are clear but in a larger sense I can't picture how this works. What is the basic concept in the engine mounting that makes this rotation possible? Also, I don't understand how the exhaust system could have been designed to accommodate this rotation.

[3.1cutlass]

Yep that is how you do it in quite a few fwd cars. Take out the front 2 upper motor mounts and let the car move forward in park. The motor will rotate forward enough to work on it. You will not damage anything in the process.

[pocket-rocket]

The exhaust has a pivot point in it. There is a flange on the down pipe, and a donut gasket on the exhaust manifold. The flange is held to the exhaust manifold by springs held down by 2 bolts so that the flange makes contact the whole time the engine is being rotated.