Small Block & Big Block Chevy Specific - timing cover removal w/out dropping oil pan?

I was at a meet this past sat. and I was talking to a guy about his engine and his cam swap. He told me that he dint remove or lower the oil pan to swap out the cam. I thought he had a 2 piece timing cover but when I looked it was a 1 piece. He said theres some kinda trick to it but he wouldnt tell me what he did.:secret2: Anyone heard about this? :confused:

I want to swap out the cam in mine but believe me when I tell you theres NO room for lowering the pan.

Nope, i have never been able to do it without bending the timing cover.

i removed the 2 bolts in the front of the pan, put some engine assembly lube on the lower timing cover seal and used silicon to adhere the seal to the timing cover, and it slid right in lol

Well i wouldnt recommend it. But it is possible. I get pissed when i tear the gasket and have to loosen the oil pan anyways.

So then its possible, just a little risky as far as it leaking or messing up one of the gaskets. Maybe ill give it a try.

just lube up the seal first and remove the two front oil pan bolts, itll give you just enough wiggle room.

i've done the same way bowtie said many times. you do have to be very carefull though or you will bend the cover or tear the seal or gasket.

if you take your cover and cut the ends off at the very top on both sides at a 45 degree angle it makes the install way easier. this will also help next time you want to pull it back off.

i've done the same way bowtie said many times. you do have to be very carefull though or you will bend the cover or tear the seal or gasket.

yup

i have done it before, but i bent the cover.. not really that bad though, no leaks

if you take your cover and cut the ends off at the very top on both sides at a 45 degree angle it makes the install way easier. this will also help next time you want to pull it back off.

x2, I thought chebby guys were born with that info!!..lol..i've done that every sbc i've owned.

thank you guys I've been stuck with the same problem for almost 3 weeks now thank you guys again

Definitely done it many times, no leaks, but it can be a pain in the ass every now and then, then again i have had others that were a breeze.

Thanks for the advice guys, took it off yesterday and it popped right out. And I was all worried about it.....heh

maybe im slow..You mean to swap timing chains you didnt have to remove the oil pump?..And all you did was take off the timing cover, and the front 2 bolts of the pan, and you can slide it off?

LS1 oil pumps are completely different than GEN I & II
It is under the crank, not behind the timing cover

if you take your cover and cut the ends off at the very top on both sides at a 45 degree angle it makes the install way easier. this will also help next time you want to pull it back off.

Ive had sucess with this method before

maybe im slow..You mean to swap timing chains you didnt have to remove the oil pump?..And all you did was take off the timing cover, and the front 2 bolts of the pan, and you can slide it off?

no, the oil pump is nowhere near the timing chain, its on the opposite side of the engine below the distributor