Was changing the water pump on my 289 and on of the 40 year old and never removed bolts broke. Not so bad, but it was one of the long ones that go thru the front cover and thread into the block. Time for the drill and easy out. The question I need an answer to is, can the front timing cover be removed without dropping the oil pan? The broken piece is at the bottom of a thru hole in the cover. I want to do this in the truck if possible. Can anyone give me some guidance? Thanks in advance for the help.

 

i think 4 bolts go into the cover through the base.you need to loosen of the other base bolts about half way back or you will have trouble getting it back on.i have often twisted a bolt of and just let it go without a problem.i put silicone on for extra insurance.

 

Thanks for the information. This bolt is one that seals the pump to the water passage, so I'm reluctant to leave it out.

 

There is a gasket kit available that is made for replacing the front cover with the oil pan still in place. Once you remove the front cover you slice the oil pan gasket with a razor blade flush with the front of the block and it has two new pieces of gasket that seal on the pan rails along with a new rubber front seal to install in the front cover. A bit of silicone is required to seal between the cut off ends of the gasket and those new pieces. It can be a little tricky and prone to leakage if not done exactly right, so follow the directions to the letter...and keep your fingers crossed!

As long as you're in there, you might want to take the opportunity to check the timing gears and chain. A lot easier to replace them now then have to go in again later to do it should problems arise. A good aftermarket roller chain set is not much more expensive than a stock set.

Also, it's easier to do all this with the radiator out of the way (if you haven't removed it already).