timing chain...how difficult to change?

[Anonymous]

my mechanic told me yesterday....after finishing up my main bearihngs last week...that he saw a lot of play ion the timing chain...

kinda made me mad cause with half the engine torn down...he didnt say anything until it was back together...

how difficult is it change myself?

he is already going to do some valve/rocker adjustments for me...should I have him do the chain...or is this easy?

onm a scale of 1 - 5 wrenches...how difficult?

thanks guys
chaz

 

[x21]

Maybe not so hard as much as possibly messy. I say that just because you have to drain the coolant to take off the water pump & then the timing cover. As far as I can recall, it's not that bad of a job to get more in-depth into things on your engine. I havent been involved in a timing chain & gear in a good amount of time, so maybe i remember it being easier than it actually was. If you only want to replace the chain itself, it should not be so difficult, but if you have it opened up, you may want to think about changing the gears, especially if they are all original. The 302 i had in my 69 had the cam timing gear made with some plastic/cast teeth. I think you would need a puller if you wanted to remove the gear on the crank.
Basically the following must be done (guys, add in if I miss anything), to accomplish the job- drain coolant, remove belts & hoses, remove radiator, remove pulleys on water pump & crank, remove timing cover.
Then you have access to the chain & gears.
Once you replce whatever you wanted to replace, you will have to make sure that you reseal the timing cover & water pump when you replace them on, and basically reverse the process of removal for putting things back in.
*note- be careful about possibly snapping bolts that hold on the pump & cover.
I also recommend that you get a mini chilton manual for the car, if you dont have one.
Good luck!

 

[CobraSix]

Not hard at all. It is messing.

Here is mine...did it out of car, but not too difficult to do in car.

http://kastang.tripod.com/timingchain.html

Slade

 

[Guest]

Don't forget the oil pan. You have to drop the front of the oil pan to remove the timing chain cover.

 

[Anonymous]

ammm i don't think you have to remove the water pump to do the timing chain, at least i never do :roll:

 

[CobraSix]

You right, don't need to remove the water pump, but do need to remove the oil pan so you can replace the gasket when you pull the timing cover off. My picture has them both removed since I had the enough out and was replacing a lot of stuff.

Slade

 

[x21]

Yeah, you are right- last time i replaced a chain, it was on a 302, which does need the water pump removed... mah bahd.

 

[Anonymous]

Most timing chain sets come with a gasket to replace the front portion of the oil pan so you don't have to drop the pan.

You will also need a balancer puller to get the harmonic balancer off.

Not to hard - did it myself first time. Just make sure to put the engine at #1 TDC so the marks are already lined up!

You will NEVER get the pan back on without leaking unless you have a lift and a helper. It's virtually impossible to put that thing back on with jackstands by yourself, even IF You take out the sway bar and the bottom brace.

 

[addo]

Does the '68 have a removable lower crossmember or is it integral like the '68 Falcons? If it's integral, life will be real fun. :x

 

[x21]

It should be removable, held in by a big bolt on each side.

 

[Anonymous]

I was going to advance the timing on my cam by re-locating the multi keyed timing groove 8 to 12 degrees retarded. I thought this would be simple, do I have to pull the harmonic balancer off and the sump just to do this???

 

[Anonymous]

I've pulled the oil pan on Jack stands alone and by myself... I will not EVER do that again...

It was a pain in the behind!

I used a slow cure gasket sealant that allowed me to assemble the peices one at a time slowly and get it all together by myself...

It took me about six hours to drop all the parts, pull the pan, clean the surfaces, and install a new one, then put it all together again...

It can be done.. but it is far easier on a lift, or out of car....

 

[Anonymous]

so if I am reading this right...my mechanic should have seen this weh n he removed the head...

ah, another mechanic bites the dust cause he is a bastard...

this is when I should repalce my harmonic balancer....and some gears....and my water neck that is cruddy looking...

oh fun...