In the process of replacing my engine seals I discovered a nasty crack in my timing chain cover and have to replace it. However, I can't seem to get the bolt holding down the pulley in front of it (connecting to the cam shaft?) off without huge amounts of torque. I'm worried about breaking the bolt, a wrench or part of my engine,,, is there some trick to this?
1966 289 V-8 3 spd
Cheers,
Ziggy
< Message edited by Ziggysan -- 4/15/2007 4:06:58 AM >
Are you talking about the crank-shaft pulley (the bottom-most pulley)?
If so, then you have the 3 or 4 smaller 9/16th bolts plus the 1 large 15/16th bolt. The smaller bolts hold the pulley on and the larger bolt holds the harmonic balancer in position.
Hit the bolts with some weasel piss and let it soak. It takes a pretty good twist to take remove some of those bolts especially if they have been on there a long time and full of gunk.
To stop the engine from rotating while you are trying to loosen the bolts, I pop the inspection cover off of my transmission and jam a pry-bar between the tranny housing and the flex-plate. Take care not to damage the teeth on the flexplate. You shouldn't need to use this method for the pulley bolts, just the large one.
Make sure you are using a 1/2 ratchet to get those off. Leverage is your friend!! Don't try to do it with a 3/8 setup. That is a recipe for busted knuckles and minimal progress.
To get the harmonic balancer off, you will need a harmonic balancer puller. Ask about it at your local parts house and they will show you what you need.
Get a shop manual or a Chiltons manual and follow the removal and installation instructions.
Nothing to it but to do it!!
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Government Warning:
Governments are extremely dangerous. Death, imprisonment, theft of property and loss of freedom will result from giving them too much power.
The bolts connecting the pulley to the harmonic balancer are not torqued very tight and will come right off with an impact (or use a breaker bar with a very quick action to break the bond). As far as the camshaft bolt, dont worry about snapping it, and it should not be torqued very tight (when you screw it in you get to a point where the motor starts turning over so the bolt does not get very tight. You will need a harmonic balancer puller (steering wheel puller) to get the harmonic balancer off before you get to the timing cover. Check your timing chain and gears before you put the new cover on (just did mine and I'm glad I check, most of the teeth where missing on the large gear!) The process is explained pretty well in the Chiltons manual. If you dont have one, buy one because it is worth the money.
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1969 Mach 1 - 351W-4V, FMX auto (original 4-speed)
Printable Version
Removing pulleys, cam bolt, timing chain cover - 
