How to replace timing chain cover?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 633
Likes: 1
From: Hamilton, ON, Canada
How to replace timing chain cover?
Do you have to remove the oil pan to get a leak free joint when replacing the timing chain cover? Chevy shop manual says no but I can't see how you get a tight joint with oil pan in place.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 7,117
Likes: 51
From: Dove Mountain Arizona
They have kits for replacing just the timing cover. Comes with two shorty oil pan seals. When I do it I just losen the oil pan bolts and put a wooden wedge at the front side to pry it down about 1/2". This will allow you to remove the timing cover "up and out". I have in the past just trimmed off the lower edge of the inner lip of the timing cover flange so you don't have to hassle with the reinstall, but even without this trim job it still goes fairly easily. Lotsa silicone at the pan to cover area. 
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
I have one of those fel-pro 1 piece oil pan gaskets made of neopreme. I think if you have one of those your chances of replacing the timing cover only would be better as its a reuseable type of gasket.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 6
From: Long Island NY
I your motor is stock like mine is (94k miles). My front seal was leaking also, I replaced the timing chain with a Cloyes True Double Roller and oil pump with a Melling 55A with steel shaft and also used the one peice fel-pro gasket.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,342
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Area Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08
After discussing this with a mechanic I changed mine without dropping it . I just loosened enough to get it in place. No leakage. I don't have any idea if that was original gasket or not. I'm assuming so.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 496
Likes: 0
From: Valparaiso Indiana
I did mine w/o even loosening the oil pan bolts, but it wasn't easy. As others have said, use plenty of silicon and by using a large pair of channel lock pliers. you can squeeze between the pan and the cover enough where it will seat-and stay seated- on both sides.
Dropping the pan a tad will make it an easy one-person job sans any cussin'
Bill
Dropping the pan a tad will make it an easy one-person job sans any cussin'
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 6
From: Long Island NY
Whom ever didn't want to pull the timing cover, do you know that the stock timing chain is plastic in a lot of our cars 
If you know the chain was changed that fine, if not you'll looking for trouble. Plus your oil pump is old which also has a plastic piece on the shaft. Not to mention new gaskets and you can paint the cover and pan...
If you know the chain was changed that fine, if not you'll looking for trouble. Plus your oil pump is old which also has a plastic piece on the shaft. Not to mention new gaskets and you can paint the cover and pan...
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Originally Posted by mvftw
Whom ever didn't want to pull the timing cover, do you know that the stock timing chain is plastic in a lot of our cars If you know the chain was changed that fine, if not you'll looking for trouble. Plus your oil pump is old which also has a plastic piece on the shaft. Not to mention new gaskets and you can paint the cover and pan...
If you know the chain was changed that fine, if not you'll looking for trouble. Plus your oil pump is old which also has a plastic piece on the shaft. Not to mention new gaskets and you can paint the cover and pan...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
Originally Posted by joe73vette
When you get the timing cover off, trim the ends of the inner lip at an angle to make it easier to reinstall. You'll see how when you have it apart. Joe
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
Originally Posted by glen242
Chain is metal, gear may be plastic (nylon).
I replaced mine with a two piece chrome timing chain cover so that if I ever need to take the cover off again I won't have to worry about the oil pan problem. I also replaced my oil pan and timing chain while I was at. I put in a Cloyes Street True Double Roller timing chain. My old original chain was stretched to hell, couldn't believe the factory put a plastic cam gear in there.
