Ok... I'm new to this so I need some help. Basically to make it short and sweet I just need to know if anyone has ever installed the timing chain cover on a 93 z with the oil pan gasket on. My friend, who is also my mechanic, obviously has no idea what to do when it comes to an Lt1 and now frustration has set in . I have searched the forum for the past two days and come up with nothing... PLEASE HELP!!!!

Thanks for any advice, pics, diagrams and aspirin ahead of time

 

it's not designed to come off or be put on that way. it's designed to put on first and the put the oil pan over it to keep it from leaking. however, it can be done. getting it out requires some tugging and prying, but it sounds like you've got that accomplished. getting it back on sucks. frankly, the easiest way is to undo the first 4 bolts on the oil pan and pry it down gently with a pry bar (trying not to bend the pan) while having your buddy wiggle it in. you can also trim off some of the bottom of the timing cover lip where it goes in. this will help you get it in. it will work, but 80% of the time both of these methods will cause a very small oil drip out of the front of the pan. nothing bad, but you will notice it on your sway bar. good luck

 

i think most who attempt that method rip the oil pan gasket. Its worth a try if you don't mind replcing it if it rips. I just removed all the nuts at bolts holding the pan on (there are both) and let it hang there. it isn't as bad as you'd think. i thought it was going to be a nightmare with all those seemingly hard to get to bolts but it wasn't that bad. just do it the right way

 

Removing all the bolts/nuts and loosing the 2 rear nuts will drop the pan enough to allow the timing cover to be installed. This is the way it should be done on any small block.

 

Out of curiosity...how much of the lip do you cut off the cover? Grind a little off the whole thing, cut the outside edges down?

Thanks!

 

thanks for the help... I'll be on this in the morning

 

It takes a few more minutes to do it right and lower the front of the pan down. That can save you hours of work and frustration replacing the whole pan gasket if you tear it up (which is very easy to do, if you don't lower the front of the pan). Nothing worse to try to shortcut something and it cause you lots of headaches down the road.
The pan goes on after the timing cover. That's the way the SBC engine has been since it's birth over 50 years ago.