Just finished replacing my timing chain cover gasket, here's a few pics of what I found.


Don't know how the gasket got like that, everything was tight.
Used 4Crawler's write up about replacing the timing chain without removing the head, and just omitted what I didn't need.

And here's what it looked like partway through the gasket replacement.

 

I did this the other nite on my 22r. Most shops will charge you to 11- 13 hours because the job "says" you have to remove the cylinder head. If you choose to do the job yourself, drain coolant and oil. I drained my coolant and also pulled the coolant plug on back of engine on driver side. As you pull the the timing cover off have come clean rags handy because the front of the oilpan will be exposed and coolant will drain from ports and get into oilpan. Stuff the rags there there. this will limit coolant in the oilpan. There is a bolt underneath the distributor gear, I had to remove Cam bolt to get to. If you do not remove the head, cut the front part of the head gasket off and seal it up with permatex before you put timing cover back on. seal the corners where the oipan connects to it also. Alot of mechanics do this to cut time. If you choose to have someone else do it, since you are paying for it, tell them you want the head removed. If you are paying them a full 11 hours for the job, make it take 11 hours, you will benefit with a new head gasket as well. Whichever you choose.... Goodluck. I also work swingshift 55 hours a week and am a full time college student. My time is limited as well. If you do the job, then take your time and replace alot of other things while you are there. Oil and water pump to name a couple.