Timing belt change on first-gen 2.0L Escape - any catalytic converter removal tips?
 

I'm gearing up to change the timing belt on my 2002 Escape 2.0L, and the one thing that I'm worried about is getting the catalytic converter off. As far as I can tell, this is unavoidable because otherwise it's impossible to access the hole that the timing pin screws into.

Is this true? And if so, does anyone have any pointers for making it as easy as possible?

I've ordered new spring bolts as I'm expecting to have to cut them off.

My Haynes manual is at home so I'll look later - I wouldn't normally associate a cat (at front or rear of the engine), with blocking access to a timing pin (on the engine belt end face or in the flywheel), but mine is a V6, I'm not familiar with the 2.0.

I'll post later unless someone else chimes in first.

I've finally done the job, and you absolutely have to remove the cat to get to the timing pin hole.

Getting the cat off was actually straightforward, the only thing that slowed me down was having to cut the two large spring bolts at the flange between the cat and the exhaust pipe - the nuts had rusted onto the bolts and there was nothing to grab with wrenches or sockets. I did try hitting the bolts with the impact gun, but the flags on the nuts instantly disintegrated.