How to change a timing cover?

[Tibokan]

Got a replacement one for my VN V6 as my original one is leaking badly, but have no idea how to change it. Tried to do a search for it but nothing came up. Can it be done DIY and if it can, can someone give me a step by step guide? Thanks in advance.

[centy]

2 ways
1st
lift engine up drop sump remove water pump, balancer and cas then change the cover.
that is the long and correct way.
2nd remove balancer waterpump and front few bolts on sump then carefully remove cover. on reassemble use lots of go to seal it all up.

either way will want a oil change.

[Cheap6]

Are you sure that it is the cover leaking and not just the gasket between it and the engine block?

Either way, it's not really all that difficult but asking if you can do it DIY or not suggests that perhaps you can't do it. I'll outline what is involved and let you decide. That should also help you ask the right questions should you choose to pay someone else to do it too.

The right way to do the job incudes removing the oil sump from the engine. This is because the lower part of the timing cover seals against the front part of the sump so the sump gasket should be replaced too.

That involves lifting the engine and dropping the sub frame from under the engine. To do that you need to have some means of supporting the engine safely on a chain. The exhaust 'Y' pipe and steering rack need to be removed. There are a few more things to consider when removing/replacing the sump also but I'll leave that for now.

The short cut, bodgy, way is to leave the sump in place and either cut the front of the sump gasket off and replace it with silicon based sealant, or to leave the gasket intact and apply the sealant to both sides of it.

Because it's virtually impossible to get the sealing surfaces clean enough, this will probably leak again. The value of, and life left in, a near 20 year old car vs the cost/effort of repair may mean that you consider that to be OK.

To remove and replace the timing cover, sump in place or not, requires:

Battery disconnected.

Radiator removed - leave the fan on it.

Undo the bolts holding the brackets for the wiring harness that goes to the starter motor, at the front of the sump.

Undo the three bolts from the front of the sump into the timing cover.

Engine accessory drive belt removed.

Front pulley bolt (difficult) and pulley removed.

Crank angle sensor unplugged.

Coolant bypass hose to manifold removed.

1/2" head bolts holding timing cover onto the engine removed. The 3/8" head ones between the water pump and timing cover can stay.

That should allow the timing cover to be removed.

The sealing surfaces can then be cleaned: gasket scraper, razor blade then thinners and the (new?) cover and gasket (re)fitted.

The oil pump is in the timing cover and driven off the front of the crank. It can be difficult to align, and you have to lift the pump rotor onto the crank with something like a small screwdriver. A hand mirror helps to see where the rotor is in relation to the crank.

You may want to change the engine oil as it is likely that coolant will drip from the water galleries in the block into the sump. You will also have to replace any coolant lost, perhaps taking the opportunity to change it completely.

[MRICHO]

can you please tell me what the best brand of gasket for timming cover....Thanks