I'm about to remove my timing cover for a cam change. The cam and lifters I've got dialed, but the cover has always been a pain. Anyone got any suggestions on that?

Thanks

 

Try loosening the front bolts on the oil pan, to gain a little clearance.

 

remove the oil pan first. this will make things way easier and make for a better seal.

 

Removal you might be able to wiggle it out of there without loosening the oil pan. I haven't tried it myself but there was a post about this a while back where several people claim they had done it successfully several times without distrubing the oil pan or it's end seal gasket.

The trick to this was, apparently, trimming the "wings" on the inside of the timing cover slightly so they could reinstall it as well, also without disturbing the oil pan or end seal.

Sounded like a DAMNED neat trick (which is why I remembered it) but I have not, as yet, tried to do it myself.

 

what he just said... done it myself. the inner seal "lip" has to be trimmed back at about a 45* angle or so, or about 1/2". this is the part that wraps around the pan seal, so to speak. trim it off and file it down, so as not to snag on the seal. make sure you fit test it to be sure you can get it back on before you put the sealant on it for a final installation, though...

KAM

 

If you get really lazy and have an extra thirty bucks, you could install a new two-piece timing cover:

http://www.competitionproducts.com/page104.html

If you have a roller cam, you might not have that option. Dropping the front of the pan is the easiest, in my opinion. you can slightly trim the lower pan seal retainer lip, but you don't want to lose the seal into the pan, either.

 

for the most part, anytime a timing cover is pulled and the oil pan isn't, the oil pan will start leaking there after a short period of time. it's easy coming off and a bastard going back on.

 

Thanks for the replys guys. Trimming back the wings sounds like the way to go for now, I'm definitely going to put a 2pc timing cover on my "masterpiece" motor.

 

When I did this, I could not get the cover back on. Out of total fustration, I cut the single piece oil pan rubber gasket at the corners.

To reinstall the cover, now I cement the cut piece back into the cover first with silicone and add some silicione at the cut crners and install the cover. I have never had an oil leak. Knock on wood (or my head).