If I take the timing chain cover off to change to a chrome one is it going to puke fluid everywhere or do I need to drain the engine oil first?
I am considering buying a used timing chain cover and also need to know if it needs a gasket?

Thanks for the input.

The timing chain is held in place by the lip of the oil pan. It is not necessary to remove the oil pan, however, to get it off. You can loosen the front 6 bolts of the pan, and wiggle the cover off without disturbing the gasket, if you're careful. When you reinstall you put RTV in the 2 "corners" and along the lip of the original gasket and kinda wedge/wiggle it back in place. You will have to trim off the 2 "wings" on the cover at a 45* angle to do so, however (inside gasket lip of the cover- the 2 pointy ends). If you've never done this before you have a 50/50 shot at having a leak the first time you try this.

Also, I am not a big fan of anything chromed. Chrome parts are almost always trouble when it comes to making it fit right and be leak-free. Just my personal opinion. (Take with grain of salt- I have a chrome timing chain cover and valve covers on 2 of my cars right now and they work fine).

If you decide to replace the timing cover by taking the oil pan down completely you might consider using a new one-piece rubber oil pan gasket (FelPro and others). It is SOOOO much easier to install a one-piece pan gasket when you are laying on your back under a car than to do it with the old-style 4-piece set.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by 71cmro:
If I take the timing chain cover off to change to a chrome one is it going to puke fluid everywhere or do I need to drain the engine oil first?
I am considering buying a used timing chain cover and also need to know if it needs a gasket?

Thanks for the input.</font>

All of the oil is in the lower 1/2 of the pan with the engine not running. So it probably won't puke oil all over till you put the chrome cover on it http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/wink.gif
Like Damon, I think the chromed, stamped tin stuff is JUNK. Never seen one that didn't leak. That's probably exactly why you found a used one quite cheap.

Just my unprofessional opinion,, but a used, stamped tin, chromed piece of crap is like left-overs in the refrigerator,, If it was any dam good in the first place, there wouldn't be any left-overs!

Marv, I like your way of thinking. I haven't actually bought the timing cover yet and will probably reconsider after reading the postings. The left overs at my hose just get pitched after a few days of rotting.