DeTomaso Mailing List: July 2001, Message #187

Bruce Maddox wrote:

> I am in the middle of replacing the timing chain.  I've installed the
> double roller and checked the cam, but I failed in reinstalling the
> timing chain cover.  The engine is still in the car and the oil pan is
> on.  Can the timing chain be reinstalled with the oil pan in place?  If
> so, does anyone have any helpful suggestions?
>
> Or am I forced to lower the oil pan to get the lower seal in place?  If
> I need to lower the oil pan, can it be done with the engine in the car
> or an I moved to pulling the engine?
>
> I tried a fit check before I put the sealant on the lower seal and
> everything seemed fine.  But once the silicone sealant was on the lower
> seal, it would slip out of place every time I tried to tip the timing
> chain cover up into place.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Bruce
> #5494

Bruce,

It "can" be done, and I managed to do it on my Pantera last summer when I
changed the timing chain.  Jack DeRyke seemed to have the best process, and
let's see if I can remember how I did it.

Once I had all the gaskets in place and sufficiently "gooped" for sealing.
I placed the passenger side of the cover on first and located it with a
bolt near the alignment peg.  Once in place, I took a small screwdriver and
carefully pressed in the lower cover-to-pan seal up, so that it could get
over the small lip on the pan.  I just kept working this a little at a
time, it required a LOT of patience, which I almost lost on many
occassions.  The more I would get it, I'd tighten that one bolt down a
little bit more to keep it from popping out.

The trouble you have is two-fold.  First, at each end of the cover where
the seal fits, you will notice the ends must fit underneat the block but
above the oil pan.  Second, the pan has a small sealing lip on it.  So the
trouble is trying to get the one corner underneath the block started, then
carefully moving the cover over the entire pan a little at a time and
manuevering the opposite side under the block as well.

It CAN be done, but will take a lot of patience.  The easier way out is to
remove the pan entirely (since you'll need to replace the gasket.  But that
could be worse if you don't have a removable crossmember.

Good luck to you sir.

Asa Jay
--  --  --  --  --  --  --  --
   Asa Jay & Shelley Marie
   Laughton - Spokane, WA
     1973 Pantera L 5533
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