[Solved]Timing cover won't go on...

[Stanley Hudson]

Ok, so I have put most of the engine together, just a few major parts missing (starter, distributor, etc.) but I have the oil pan, cylinder head, gearbox and every other big part of the engine on, but I can't seem to fit the timing cover on the engine block. Will I have to take the whole engine apart to get the timing cover on, or can I just run the engine without it? I also have the engine on the hoist so I can see the whole engine and where it goes, and it just doesn't seem to want to put a check mark on my screen :P

[Reese]

You can't put the timing cover on that late. It has to go on before the water pump, oil pan, crankshaft gear, etc. If you put those things on before you put the cover on, the cover can't fit.

Edit: You're free to run without the timing cover, but it holds oil(and thus causes a leak without it) and since the water pump connects to it, you won't have any cooling on the engine.

[Stanley Hudson]

Originally posted by Lien:

You can't put the timing cover on that late. It has to go on before the water pump, oil pan, crankshaft gear, etc. If you put those things on before you put the cover on, the cover can't fit.

Ok, thank you I was wondering why it wouldn't go on and I really don't want to take the whole thing apart because I've had to restart many times before because of stupid things like this and it seems like it's just there to protect the belt from like dirt and stuff but seeing as you can drive your car underwater, I think I'll be fine XD. Thanks :D Edit: I see the edit now :/ welp i guess i have to take it apart lmao

[Mikhail Reign]

It's not that big of a deal. Only takes about 2 minutes to pull the engine. Hook up the hoist, undo the radiator hoses and the mounting bolts then just jack it up. The rest will just pop off. Take off the sump, put on the timing cover, hoist it back in and ya done.

[Jaboodles]

just wanna say, its pretty dumb that the oil pan prevents you from putting it on lol.

[Reese]

Old thread, but the oil pan locks the timing cover into place.

[rlambot]

It's not dumb, it is a pretty common design IRL too. The sump on the Toyota 4-AGE from the Corolla and MR2 etc. of the '80s is the same.

[Augustus Shartfire]

yeah i just took the sump off and i could put the timing cover on, with everything else installed.