These ?'s are for my son. He just picked up an 85 4x4 that the owner (someone that I know) had just replaced the timing chain and guides. He tried to take the shortcut and not take the head or oilpan off as the repair book recommends. So there's an oil leak at the top of the timing chain cover. My ? is can we replace the timing cover gasket by only taking the head off and not the oilpan?
I "WILL" have more questions.

 

Is it leaking where the valve cover meets the timing cover? Or where the timing cover meets the block? If it's the first you might just need a new valve cover gasket or need to snug up the 4 chromed nuts on top of the valve cover.

Rob

 

It's at the top of the timing cover where it meets the bottom of the head.

 

Woah ok I was way off. I don't know why I was thinking the valve cover mounts on top of the timing cover. Here is the info you need:

16. Here you have two options:
Remove the whole oil pan, or just remove the two front bolts.
On 4WD/IFS trucks, you'll likely have to lower the front differential (without a 4" lift) to be able to remove the pan
If you know or even suspect that a guide is broken, drop the pan and clean it out.
Why? Because that plastic debris can get into the oil pump pickup and cause a loss of oil pressure and since the timing chain tensioner is operated by oil pressure, you may be replacing the timing chain again (if not more) if that happens!!!
If you know it's clean just remove the two very front bolts.

Taken from: http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ingChain.shtml

Rob

 

It's Monday!

 

Thanks rdlsz24. Looking at those instructions and illustrations, that person didn't remove the head either.

 

It is WAY easier to pull the pan on an 85. On ours, we had to jack up the frame slightly to the axle would drop down some. Then drop the pan.

Should check in it for broken plastic guide peices anyway.

 

So you lowered the pan and didn't have to take the head off, right?

 

Yes, no head removal

Use a good sealer at the top od the t-cover (I use grey ultra seal (Toyota approved)

I use the ultraseal for the pan gasket (just sealant)

Make sure everything is clean and dry.....I use a brake cleaner solvent.

Also, quite often the o-ring on the distributor will be the source of an oil leak.

 

Hey thanks a whole bunch! I think we can tackle this thing. I don't think the previous owner has a lot of patients and just hurried the reassembly.
Thanks again for the info.