I think I'm in over my scalp. I should probably sell the truck and engine for parts.

 

Let me know if/what your solution is (even if it's selling the truck). Starting to open up my first 3vze ('95) and would like to know other's price/ire threshold, before I get upside down on it.

 

After destroying several tools and somewhat costly parts, it was finally evident that there wasn't any real solid answer to my gear removal problem. I had to utilize a different approach, but the gear finally came off. Maybe my gear removal challenge was so unique, that no one knew for sure how it should have been solved.


After the gear had been removed; the oil seal was finally removed as well.


Mission accomplished.

 

I have to respectfully disagree with the portions now bolded. I clearly gave you a method for getting it off in post 13 above. Did you fail to click the underlined link in that post and read the following:

"If you can't get the gear off, you may have to do what I eventually had to do on mine. It was well frozen and just would not come off. I had to drill two holes at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions and tap them. (I used a cobalt bit and stopped frequently to pour oil on the end.) Then I screwed in two threaded stocks and used a puller. That did the trick. Put a mark of tape around the drill bit to make sure you don't drill all the way through the gear and into the seal. (I drilled holes sized for 5mm threaded stock, but the force required was so much that if I had to do it over I'd use 6mm.)"?

Are you going to share your wisdom for how you removed it?

Anyhow, good that you got it off.

 

I've got a tool shortage. I didn't have the tap and die set to set threads, so I used a large chisel and a drill of some unknown size to weaken the gear as to either break into pieces or modify enough to get a puller onto.

 

I had the same issue some years back I used a grinder to cut some groove's in the pulley. Then I just used a regular two jaw gear puller and copious amounts Of penetrating lube came right off.

 

Is the plate that sits behind the Lh & Rh timing section considered to be essential ?

 

Yes you don't want crap falling down inside the timing cover from behind unless you like replacing t belts. If an extension or socket fell in there (when your inevitably working on the 3.0 in the future) it wouldn't be pretty

 

The cams TDC timing mark is on that cover plate. Re-install it.