Timing Chain: Service and Repair

Front Cover & Water Pump Bolt Locations:

To replace seal in timing gear cover, it is necessary to remove cover as outlined below.
1. Disconnect battery ground cable and drain cooling system.
2. Remove air cleaner and air intake duct.
3. On supercharged engines, remove electric cooling fan assembly.
4. On non-supercharged engines, remove fan/clutch assembly.
5. On all models, remove drive belts and water pump pulley.
6. Remove power steering pump mounting bracket bolts, if equipped. Leave hoses connected and position pump assembly aside.
7. Remove A/C compressor support bracket, if equipped. Leave compressor in place.
8. Disconnect coolant bypass hose and heater hoses at water pump and upper radiator hose at thermostat housing.
9. Disconnect ignition coil secondary wire from distributor cap, then remove distributor cap with ignition wires attached.
10. On non-supercharged engines, with No. 1 cylinder at TDC compression stroke, mark position of rotor to distributor housing and position of distributor housing to front cover.
11. Remove distributor hold-down clamp, then lift distributor from front cover.
12. On supercharged engines, remove hold-down clamp and lift camshaft synchronizer from front cover.
13. Raise and support vehicle.
14. Remove crankshaft pulley using crankshaft damper removal tool No. T85P-6316-D and vibration damper removal adapter tool No. T82L-6316-B or equivalents.
15. Remove oil filter and oil cooler, if equipped, then disconnect lower radiator hose from water pump.
16. Remove oil pan as described under OIL PAN
17. Lower vehicle and remove front cover attaching bolts, Fig. 8. A front cover attaching bolt is located behind oil filter adapter. Also tag bolts as they are removed so that they can be installed at same location.
18. Remove front cover and water pump as an assembly.
19. Remove camshaft bolt and washer from end of camshaft.
20. Remove distributor drive gear, then remove camshaft sprocket, crankshaft sprocket and timing chain.
21. If crankshaft sprocket is difficult to remove, pry off shaft using two large screwdrivers positioned on both sides of sprocket.
22. Remove chain tensioner assembly from front of cylinder block as follows:
a. Pull back on ratcheting mechanism.
b. Install pin through hole in bracket to relieve tension.
c. Remove three mounting bolts.
23. Reverse procedure to install, noting the following:
a. If a replacement front cover is to be installed, the water pump, oil pump, oil filter adapter and intermediate shaft must be removed from the front cover to be replaced and reinstalled on the replacement front cover. It may be necessary to rotate crankshaft 180° from the No. 1 cylinder TDC location to position fuel pump eccentric for fuel pump installation. When installing distributor, No. 1 cylinder must be at TDC position and marks made during removal must be aligned.
b. Lightly oil all bolt and stud threads before installation, except those specifying special sealant.
c. Rotate crankshaft as necessary to position piston No. 1 at TDC and crankshaft keyway at 12 o'clock position.
d. Lubricate timing chain and front oil seal with new clean engine oil.
e. Ensure timing marks are aligned across from each other.
f. On non-supercharged engines, install distributor with rotor pointing at No. 1 cap tower.
g. Tighten to specifications.