I'm doing my first in car cam change and I am getting ready to put it back together. I dropped the first three bolts back along the oil pan to get it out, but I need it to go in a little easier so I don't hurt the seal. How far do some of you drop the pan? What are the tricks togetting a good seal? Thanks!

I don't drop the pan, but I do loosen the two or three bolts on either side, the ones closest to the timing cover (just like you did). In the past, I have cut the heads off some long 1/4 inch bolts and made line up pins, and used the pins to slide the timing cover in place. Using pins also helps compress the rubber gasket on the bottom of the cover, which I'm sure is what's giving you problems.

Randy - I haven't even tried to stab it back in, but it was hard to get out. I pulled out a piece of the cork corner with it! :eek:

I don't really understand what you mean by pins. Do you put the pins on the top of the oil pan lip and slide the cover in?

I just pulled this motor last winter to re-seal the pan because of a small front seal leak... Wish I would have changed the cam then.

You take a couple of quarter inch bolts about three inches long and cut the heads off. Install them in the front of the block in the bolts holes for the timing cover. I place them just above the dowel pins so I can rock the bottom in first to avoid tearing or displacing the rubber seal. Then I push it in place over the dowel pins and start the bolts. A new gasket set should come with the pieces for the front of the oil pan. Glue them down with weatherstrip adhesive and let it set up. Then smear both sides with RTV so you lessen the chances of tearing the cork gaskets.

There is another trick. Some folks like to remove the dowel pins from the block and set the timing cover in place with a couple of bolts that are only screwed in about two or three turns, and then they drive the dowel pins back in the block. After that, the cover should be place and you can reinstall the rest of the bolts.

Thank you. It's in. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I just hope it doesn't leak.