Today I started the tear down of my 68 400. I had a set of big valve c heads totally rebuilt. Cutlassefi (Mark) hooked me up with a roller cam,roller lifters and timing chain. Im gonna top it off with an edelbrock 750. I got the intake off,pass side cylinder head,radiator and water pump all off. I would have gotten the driver side cylinder head off but the last header bolt was really pissing me off but I'll get it. Any tips to get the timing cover off? I'm thinking I'm gonna have to loosen the oil pan bolts and drop the front of the pan to remove the the cover.

I have to get the harmonic balancer off,I have a 3/4 air gun but don't think my 30 gallon compressor has enough air pressure to use it. Any tips to keep the balancer from turning while I use a socket and breaker bar? I bought a gear puller from harbor freight so I think I'm all set there. I hope to get some pics up soon.

Thanks, Steve

 

Hey Steve,

Yes you'll need to drop the pan, that'll be easier.
Balancer should come right off with the puller, they're normally not that tight. To keep it from turning just put a screwdriver or pry bar between the bolts that hold the puller on. Should work fine.

Good luck!!

 

The balancer bolt should come with the air gun....max setting at least 100 psi. I would recommend a balancer puller as a jaw type gear puller goes on the outside of the gear or pulley and this could damage the rubber that keeps the balancer intact.

 

The pan's gotta come off anyway, so why not just remove it?

I would tend to concur, but you never know till you try - it only has to run for a second or two.

As Mark said: jam something long between some bolts, whether in front or in back.
The coil of rope fed into a cylinder trick always works, too.
If you use an air gun, you shouldn't need to do anything - it'll just spin off.

Don't know if you caught that, Mark -

Steve, did you mean gear puller, or did you just mistype?

You need a harmonic balancer puller.
A gear puller will just destroy your balancer.

- Eric

edit: you beat me to it, Joe!

 

Thats what happens when you type so many words!! LOL

 

I meant I'll use the gear puller for the timing gear on the crank..