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Timing cover access

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allen hanford

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I need to get the timing cover off of the 1275 engine that's in my '68 midget. Has anyone here done this job with the engine still in the car? My radiator is already out so I'm thinking I might get away with unbolting the motor mounts and jacking the engine and trans up a couple of inches.
 
Very difficult to do. I did replace the crank pully seal in the field once with the engine in the car.
The problem is getting the engine high enough to break the bully bolt loose and then remove the pully.
On my FP car the cross member had been moved forward to fit a crankfire system so it was a bit easier and no battery tray
You will have to raise the engine very high to get at the bolt and remove the pully.
Aside from disconnecting the exhaust, I think the trans bell housing will hit the battery tray before you get it high enough.
 
Actually moved it forward about 4 inches. It helped things out when setting the timing as I could finally get a wrench on the crank pully nut to turn the engine. The front cover is tricky to seal properly. They tend to warp and sometimes it s a pain to get it flat. If you don't get it sealed you don't know till you get the motor back in the car and run it. If it leaks you have a mess and need to start all over.
 
That's not good to hear but certainly good advice Joe.
 
I got the cover off this morning. The radiator was already out and unbolting the motor mounts and header pipe gave me plenty of room to jack the engine off and remove the pulley.

I noticed that the cover is pretty malleable so I'll try to get it flat and check it against a granite surface plate (I know that's overkill). I also have a spare cover if I can't make this one work.

Would it be okay to use non hardening form-a-gasket in this situation?
 
Forgot to mention, the battery tray wasn't a problem. Not sure whether the bell housing would have touched it but mine was all bent up when I got the car.
 
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