Timing chain cover replacement...

[tarifachris]

I want to replace my timing chain - but if you google it they have all the oil pan dropped or loosened the first bolts from the pan. Is there a way to do it without dropping the pan? Looks like the dowel pins are the problem... To center the cover do you install first the balancer and fasten the cover bolts later?

[Rickf1985]

You can take the cover off without dropping the pan. The replacement gaskets are designed to go only over to the block on top of the pan and you use a dab of RTV at the mating edges. Getting the cover off can be a bit of a challenge depending on how aggressive the gaskets are holding on but with all the replacement sets I have used the oil pan is left alone and the original oil pan gasket is cut flush with the face of the block and the new set has all you need. The seal is put in the cover on the bench and the cover put on and bolted down. Then the balancer is bolted on after all of that. The dowels will center the cover, those and the bolts in the pan and the block.