Timing Chain Inspection and Replacement

[Tynan918]

Is the fan, water pump, and harmonic balancer the only things I remove to get to the timing chain cover ?

 

[mikester]

See the bolt sticking out of the block next to the timing chain cover ? Check that to see if its leaking. If it is take the bolt out, put some sealer on it and thread it back into the block tight. Thats the boss Scoti was talking about.
Advice. Do you have any 24 hr self serve car washes near you ? If you do before you work on your car again take it there after hours with a couple of cans of degreaser and powerwash the bottom of your motor. It will make it much easier to see things like leaks.

 

[mikester]

BTW, the block off plate is just the 4 bolts and a gasket. Im surprised to see the ground cable attached to it. Most of the time theyre attached to a bolt on the front of the right side head or on the alternator bracket if you dont have a serpentine setup.

 

[scoti]

BTW, the block off plate is just the 4 bolts and a gasket. Im surprised to see the ground cable attached to it. Most of the time theyre attached to a bolt on the front of the right side head or on the alternator bracket if you dont have a serpentine setup.

I was thinkin the same thing. The ground can't be very good w/a gasket between.

 

[scoti]

I had no idea that reference was for this part...

The only fuel pumps I'm familiar with is the external and internal at the rear of the car...

I'll look into more fuel pump block of plate to gain further clarity of it and how it's installed...

Like I mentioned earlier, sbc stuff interchanges. Later model stuff w/an electric fuel pump will utilize a block-off plate.
Some sbc's don't have the block drilled for the mechanical fuel pump rod to pass through the block; some do. They usually use the block off plate on blocks not using a mechanical pump but that are drilled for one.

 

[mwjoyce78]

You do not wait for the RTV to fully cure before installing the part if you did this with the timing cover gasket it can cause leaks since it will not compress and squeeze out the excess to create a good seal.


Instructions for Permatex Ultra black:
3. Apply a continuous and even bead of silicone to one surface; surround all bolt holes.
Assemble parts immediately. Finger tighten bolts until material begins to squeeze out around flange. Allow to dry for one hour then retighten 1/4 to 1/2 turn.
4. Silicone dries in 1 hour, and fully cures in 24 hours.

This is eerily similar to what I had commented on before…. Seems to be a common recommendation to follow the OEM instructions on installing parts that require RTV.

 

[Tynan918]

See the bolt sticking out of the block next to the timing chain cover ? Check that to see if its leaking. If it is take the bolt out, put some sealer on it and thread it back into the block tight. Thats the boss Scoti was talking about.
Advice. Do you have any 24 hr self serve car washes near you ? If you do before you work on your car again take it there after hours with a couple of cans of degreaser and powerwash the bottom of your motor. It will make it much easier to see things like leaks.

View attachment 193296

Will do, thanks for that.

 

[Tynan918]

BTW, the block off plate is just the 4 bolts and a gasket. Im surprised to see the ground cable attached to it. Most of the time theyre attached to a bolt on the front of the right side head or on the alternator bracket if you dont have a serpentine setup.

I wondered if that was the right battery ground location or not...

 

[melloelky]

a lot of times the negitive cable goes to the upper/lower alternator bracket or a threaded spot on the block near the fuel pump plate in question.make sure there's no paint/grease or rust @those locations.

 

[Tynan918]

Almost done replacing everything on the front of the engine...

I have everything but the fan, which arrives tomorrow... I'll reattach everything but the fan and fan shroud and fire it up and since my moms driveway is included, I'll pull it out and park it nose down and leave it running in idle to watch for leaks at the timing cover/oil pan.

 

[Tynan918]

The crankshaft turned clockwise a bit while installing the balancer.

Can I rotate it counterclockwise back to TDC #1 or do I need to rotate it clockwise twice back to TDC #1 ?

Or does it even matter since I set and buttoned down the timing gears already ?