Timing cover removal

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Pavegel

Pavegel

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Nov 23, 2006
Threads
30
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168
Location
Tucson, AZ
Whilst doing a head gasket r+r I think I may have dropped something behind the timing chain cover because when turn the crank over it stops before I can get a full rotation. :doh:

Sooooooooo, I am going to pull the timing cover to fish out any FOD that made it down in there.

My question is: do I need to drop the oil pans and remove the oil level sensor in order to get the timing cover off?
 
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yes, the bottom has to come off for the front to come off. at least in the 1fzfe. I had a similar situation with the whole thing not wanting to turn. glad I pulled the cover because the crankshaft sprocket was missing a couple teeth. (which i found at the bottom of the timing cover). I can only assume that's what was somehow binding the timing chain.
 
Long shot, but did you remove the crank pulley? Any chance you put a socket on the bolt through the tranny inspection window and didn't remove it?
 
Can you pull up on the dizzy timing gear, tighten the chain and then turn it? You cannot have slack in the chain to turn it.

That said, if you think you dropped something in, best to get in there and make sure. The other possibility would be reasonably catastrophic.

To take off the timing cover you need to lift the engine off of the mounts, drive front DS and sway bar, lower oil pan, upper oil pan and oil level sender, and the the front cover. You will need black FIPG, oil level sender oring, lower timing cover rectangle gasket and the 2 timing cover orings.

This is a very good time to inspect and replace rubber engine mounts if needed.

Good luck.
Onur
 
Pavegel said:
Whilst doing a head gasket r+r I think I may have dropped something behind the timing chain cover because when turn the crank over it stops before I can get a full rotation. :doh:

Sooooooooo, I am going to pull the timing cover to fish out any FOD that made it down in there.

My question is: do I need to drop the oil pans and remove the oil level sensor in order to get the timing cover off?
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Is there enough room to introduce an inspection scope into the area? Only need about 3/8" to snake it into the area around the chain. I have one of the Harbor Freight units and it works great. Have done several fuel tank internal inspections and miscellaneous looky loo jobs. John
 
Didn't concretejungle break a chunk out of his timing cover when he turned it over with the chain likely flopped over one link?

If you didn't force it, you might be able to lift way up on the chain while you rock the crankshaft. If it jumps out what seems like a link length, you might be home free.

Do an inventory of all your tools though. I spent 2 hours looking for a wrench that was in a puddle of oil under some paper towels. I was so happy to find it I cleaned it up real nice before I put it back in the tool chest.
 
inkpot said:
Is there enough room to introduce an inspection scope into the area? Only need about 3/8" to snake it into the area around the chain. I have one of the Harbor Freight units and it works great. Have done several fuel tank internal inspections and miscellaneous looky loo jobs. John
Click to expand...

I may try this out as pulling the cover is turning into a bigger job than I thought.
 
Pavegel said:
I may try this out as pulling the cover is turning into a bigger job than I thought.
Click to expand...
I have thought that I could use it for things like looking inside cylinder bores thru the spark plug hole, but I have not had a chance to do that yet. I'm sure it would fit. You can bend/shape the wand as needed to snake it around things as you advance it. I was amazed at how I could work it around the baffles inside a fuel tank. Good luck. John
 
In too deep, now...

Good news!! There were no lost bolts or nut behind the timing cover.

Bad news!! There were no lost bolts or nuts behind the timing cover.

IMG_0256.webp
 
Now would be a good time to change your timing chain slipper. I may be wrong, but I think the oem changed to a more durable one since 1997.
 
So what was it?
 
Off topic but this thread just reminded me to get the socket off of my flex plate and also that the headlight bolt that I'm missing is in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket of coolant so thanks
 
IdahoDoug said:
So what was it?
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image-4099797281.webp



Near as I can tell it was this small chuck of gasket that I think fell on the pump drive shaft gear while I had the head off. It was the only thing found on the gear itself. It doesn't seem that substantial, but the gears seem to mesh close enough that if anything fell on them it would prevent the crank from being turned over by hand.

I was able the drop the upper oil pan by jacking the front of the motor by the crankshaft pulley with a 2x4 and a floor jack. Less than an inch was required to drop the pan,

Lesson from this is to make damn sure nothing falls behind the timing cover.

Happy ending though, got it up and running today!!

image-4099797281.webp
 
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