foulpalamont

Hey everyone-I've got to replace the gasket on my timing cover and I've torn it apart back to the harmonic balancer. I managed to remove the main bolt from the harmonic balancer but now I'm faced with a very stubborn pulley that won't come off. If I understand correctly, I shouldn't try to pry it off. So, I'm in the market to buy a puller. My two questions are this:

1. Will this kit work with my balancer? Are there always bolt holes on balancers for the bolts that support the plate in place? I don't see them, but it's hard for me to get in there to really look.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ABN-13-Piece...046088&vxp=mtr

2. While I've got this guy pulled back to the timing cover, what other things should I go ahead and replace or clean? I was thinking the oil pump might be a good thing to replace as well. Any other ideas?

Thanks,
Brian

joe_padavano

Is it a Jetstar I with the 394 or a Jetstar 88 with the 330?

If the timing cover is off, REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN AND GEARS!

jaunty75

If the car in question is the one in his profile photo, it looks like a Jetstar I. While it's difficult to see, it looks like there is "Jetstar I" badging low on the front fender behind the front wheel, which is where it would be located. J-88s had the "Jetstar 88" badging up high on the front fender just behind the headlights.

oldcutlass

X2 on the timing chain. If the car has good oil pressure I leave the pump alone. That puller should work fine, another alternative is to borrow or rent one from your local parts store.

m371961

Yes on chain and gears. Your leak may be front seal.
Do you have a factory service manual? if not, you need one.

oldcutlass

A new front seal should come with the timing cover gasket set. I would also check/change the water pump.

foulpalamont

Thanks guys. It appears I'm not receiving email alerts that you guys have made these postings. I'll check into that. Yes, this is a Jetstar 1 394. I removed the timing cover and the timing chain is loose as a goose. Not only that, I'm seeing that one of the teeth is broken out of the camshaft sprocket. From all of my searching, I'm not seeing anything that matches for a replacement part for that. Do you think the Jetstar 1 would use the same timing kit as the Starfire? I know they have very similar engines. Thanks, Brian

foulpalamont

Also, I did get the harmonic balancer off simply by taking the water pump off first. It slid off like butter.

joe_padavano

Yes, parts are the same.

foulpalamont

Cool. Thanks so much.