Timing Cover: Service and Repair

Fig. 27 Dowel pin chamfer:

Fig. 28 Trimming oil pan seal:

1. Disconnect battery ground cables.
2. Drain cooling system and disconnect lower radiator and heater hoses.
3. Remove drive belts, crankshaft pulley, harmonic balancer and accessory brackets.
4. Remove timing indicator.
5. Remove front cover attaching bolts, then the front cover. Also, remove the dowel pins. It may be necessary to grind a flat on the dowel pin to provide a rough surface for gripping.
6. Grind a chamfer on one end of each dowel pin, Fig. 27.
7. Cut excess material from front end of oil pan gasket on each side of cylinder block.
8. Trim approximately 1/8 inch from each end of new front pan seal, Fig. 28.
9. Install new front cover gasket and apply suitable sealer to gasket around coolant holes.

Fig. 28 Trimming oil pan seal:

Fig. 29 Engine front cover installation:

10. Apply RTV sealer to mating surfaces of cylinder block, oil pan and front cover.
11. Place front cover on cylinder block and press downward to compress seal. Rotate cover right and left and guide oil pan seal into cavity with a small screwdriver.
12. Apply engine oil to bolts.
13. Install two bolts finger tight to retain cover.
14. Install the two dowel pins, chamfered end first.
15. Install timing indicator and remaining bolts, Fig. 29. Torque bolts as follows: water pump bolts, 21 ft. lbs.; timing cover bolts, 41---42 ft. lbs. Water pump and front cover to block attaching bolts must be coated with sealer 1052624 or equivalent, since coolant leaks and loss of bolt torque may result.
16. Install harmonic balancer and crankshaft pulley, Fig. 29. Torque crankshaft bolt to 160---350 ft. lbs. and pulley bolts to 30 ft. lbs.
17. Install accessory brackets.
18. Install drive belts.
19. Connect lower radiator and heater hoses.
20. Connect ground cables to batteries.