I have a 1985 4runner that I purchased a few months ago. The timing chain needed replaced and I did so, dropping the oil pan and leaving the head in place. I have done one years ago with this method and had no issues. This time I had no such luck, I have had an oil leak ever since. There were no leaks prior to the job. I did cut the head gasket flush with the block as it was hanging down, I liberally used fipg to no avail. So the oil is collecting on top of the water pump and making it's way everywhere else. It's either from where the timing cover meets the head or I cracked the timing cover, but lets assume it's where the cover meets the head. What are my options, pull the head I'm guessing?

 

Hard to tell exactly what you mean here. Did you cut away the entire front piece of your head gasket, the part sealing the camshaft gear and chain between the head and timing cover? If you did that, your only option to reseal it is to pull the head and replace the gasket.

 

yep that's what I did. When I pulled the old timing cover the front of the head gasket got pulled down and mangled. It seemed to be a cheap aftermarket gasket anyway. Well I guess I have a head gasket to replace now. Shouldn't be to much of an ordeal.

 

I just went out to take yet another look and I guess it's worth mentioning that the oil is all on the drivers side of the engine. The area where the timing cover meets the head appears to be sealed pretty well with rtv. I'm gonna change the distributor oring before anything else. I've heard mention that the distributor hold down bolt requires sealant. Is that true?

 

Well, hopefully prove me wrong and save yourself a bunch of work. Yes, the distributor hold-down bolt needs sealant or will leak oil.