Timing Cover: Service and Repair
4-1511982 - 84
1. Remove drive belts, then remove right front inner fender splash shield.
2. Remove crankshaft pulley attaching bolt, then remove pulley and hub from shaft.
3. Remove alternator lower bracket.
4. Remove front engine mount to cradle nuts, then install suitable engine lifting equipment and raise engine.
5. Remove engine mount bracket to cylinder block bolts, then remove mount and bracket as an assembly.
6. Remove oil pan to front cover attaching screws. Pull front cover slightly forward to permit cutting of oil pan front seal.
7. Using a suitable cutting tool, cut oil pan front seal flush with cylinder block at both sides of cover.
8. Remove front cover and attached portion of oil pan front seal, then remove front cover gasket.
9. Clean gasket surfaces on cylinder block and front cover.
10. Cut tabs from a new oil pan front seal using a suitable cutting tool, then install seal to front cover, pressing tabs into holes provided on front cover.
11. Coat front cover gasket with gasket sealer, then position gasket on front cover.
12. Apply a 1/8 inch bead of RTV sealer to joint formed at oil pan and cylinder block.
13. Install centering tool No. J-23042 into front cover seal bore. It is important that the centering tool be used to align front cover, otherwise damage to seal may result when hub is installed.
14. Install front cover to block, then install and partially tighten the two oil pan to front cover screws.
15. Install front cover to cylinder block attaching screws. Torque all cover attaching screws to 90 inch lbs., then remove centering tool J-23042.
16. Install front mount bracket assembly and alternator lower mounting bracket.
17. Lower engine and remove engine lifting equipment.
18. Install lower mount to cradle nuts, crankshaft pulley and hub, right front fender inner splash shield and drive belts. Apply Drylock No. 299 or equivalent to threaded area of crankshaft pulley to hub bolts before installing bolts.
1985 - 88
1. Remove drive belts, then the right front inner fender splash shield.
2. Remove crankshaft pulley attaching bolt, then the pulley and hub assembly.
3. Remove lower alternator bracket, then install engine support fixture J28467 or equivalent.
4. Remove engine mount bracket to cylinder block attaching bolts, then the mount and bracket as an assembly.
5. Remove front cover attaching screws, then the front cover.
6. Position oil pan front seal onto cover.
7. Apply a 3/8 inch bead of RTV sealer to joint where front cover meets oil pan, then a 1/4 inch bead of sealer to front cover to cylinder block mating surface.
8. Position centering tool J34995 into cover, then install and partially tighten two opposing cover screws.
9. Install remaining attaching screws, then torque all screws to 90 inch lbs.
10. Remove centering tool, then install engine mount and bracket.
11. Install alternator bracket, hub and pulley assembly and retaining bolt.
Fig. 13 Engine front cover installation. 1982---83 V6-173:
V6-173
1982 - 86
1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Remove accessory drive belts.
3. On 1983 - 86 models equipped with A/C, remove air injection pump and pump bracket.
4. On all models, remove water pump as described under ``Water Pump, Replace.''
5. On 1982 models equipped with A/C, remove compressor from mounting bracket and position compressor aside, then remove bracket.
6. On all models, raise and support vehicle.
7. Remove inner fender splash shield, then the accessory drive pulley and damper retaining bolt.
8. Remove damper using tool No. J-23523, or equivalent.
9. On 1982 models, disconnect lower radiator hose from front cover and heater hose from water pump.
10. On 1983 - 86 models, remove oil pan-to-cover attaching bolts, then lower vehicle.
11. On all models, remove remaining front cover attaching bolts and the cover.
12. Reverse procedure to install. Apply sealant to mating surfaces as shown in Fig. 13. On 1984 - 86 engines, it is only necessary to coat oil pan to front cover sealing surfaces since gasket is used in production.
1987 - 88
1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Drain cooling system, then remove belt tensioner.
3. Disconnect alternator and power steering pump and position aside.
4. Raise and support vehicle, then remove inner splash shield and damper.
5. Lower oil pan, then remove lower cover attaching bolts.
6. Lower vehicle, then remove radiator hose at water pump.
7. Remove bypass, overflow and canister purge hoses, then the heater coolant hose at cooling system fill pipe.
8. Remove upper front cover attaching bolts, then the front cover.
9. Reverse procedure to install. Coat oil pan to front cover sealing surfaces with suitable sealer.