one quick question. when removing the harmonic balancer, should i leave the pulley attached the balancer hub, or remove the pulley only first?

we pulled the balancer off and obviously the crankshaft hub is in the way of removing the removing the timing cover.

just want to know if the hub/pulley should be removed in one step?

 

Remove the pulley then the hub.

 

how is the hub removed?
i used the claw puller for the pulley, is the "crow's foot" used along with a puchrod to remove the hub? that looked like the solution, but i didn't want to go any farther risking motor damage

 

Yes you need to use a dowel, bolt or some sort of rod to put down in the hole of the crankshaft. The way i always do it is i remove the crank bolt and take the washer off. Then i thread the bolt pretty much all the way in. Then i start pulling. Removing the washer gives you a little bit of remove for the hub to move. Then once i pull until i hit the bolt i take the puller off and back the bolt out a little bit and go at it again. It takes a while but it works. Also note that my car has been apart quite a few times so everything was put back together with anti-seize.

 

that's what i need to know....cam will be out as soon as i get back to the garage tomorrow
-jeff

 

You need a Harmonic balancer puller. You should be able to one at any decent parts store for $20.00 or so.You will alos need to get some 7/16 bolts as most puller only go to 3/8 -10mm.Which reguires open the slot in the puller up . If you have any old SBC head bolts thet work great.

The other thin you need is a longer bolt to screw into the crank so you can center the puller on it.The hub has a lip that the bolts stop against and if you do not use a longer bolt you will never get it off. Yuou might get away with the stock crank bolt but if you can get a longer it is safer.

 

I think its easier to remove them together.

 

i've already got the puller, that's how i got the balancer off already ;-)
i work at advance auto

 

I had to drop the oil pan a small amount (about 1/4' to 1/2) to get the timing cover off. Almost impossible to reassemble without dropping the pan, and, its easy to destroy the pan seal.