Timing Cover Gasket Change

[ozarktrails]

I've developed a water leak that is at the timing cover due to an old gasket. This is on a 92 Ranger V6, automatice tranny, 2WD. An area garage gave me a price of $600 because labor to get to the gasket is heavy. Has anyone ever done this at home and how hard is it. I have done and still do my share of maintenance on my vehicles but have never attempted this. Any help and suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks everyone!

 

[MFerioli]

I'm also about to do this project, any tips? Anything else that should/has to be replaced while I'm doing this?

Thanks for the help,
Mike

 

[Big Jim M]

Guys it is simply TIME! If you have time, go at it! Ain't no tricks.. just takes a little of YOUR time and not the mechanics..
Big JIm

 

[funkingonutz]

your lucky it a 2wd i heard on the 4wd models you have to pull the motor.

 

[tomw]

I replaced the timing set on my 3.0 merc. In the car. It can be done, and they actually sell a partial pan gasket to use when you put it back together. Use O2 sensor safe RTV at the 'corner' where the pan, cover & block come together when you put it back together.
tom

 

[evanesce69]

agreed with tom...

use o2 safe rtv and pan partial gasket,

I would also advise going the extra inch or so and replacing the timing chain and gears when there. It all has to come off anyway whit a chain replacement, save the headache later and do some PM now....

PM = preventative maintenance


Rob

 

[Big Jim M]

A side note on timing chains

agreed with tom...

use o2 safe rtv and pan partial gasket,

I would also advise going the extra inch or so and replacing the timing chain and gears when there. It all has to come off anyway whit a chain replacement, save the headache later and do some PM now....

PM = preventative maintenance


Rob

My new 6 litre 3/4 ton Chevy came with a write-up that says the chain and gears were tested and are intended to last upwards of 200,000 miles! I sure hope so.
Also the engine has 6 bolt mains! A first for me..
Big JIm

 

[Bob Ayers]

My new 6 litre 3/4 ton Chevy came with a write-up that says the chain and gears were tested and are intended to last upwards of 200,000 miles! I sure hope so.
Also the engine has 6 bolt mains! A first for me..
Big JIm

Here ya go Big Jim:

http://pistonslap.com/

 

[Big Jim M]

Thanks Bob

Here ya go Big Jim:

http://pistonslap.com/

Piston slap is the very least of my worries. With modern techniques, modern machinery, laser and cnc machines, making cylinders and pistons the same size over and over is a simple task!
Prolly only piston slap would occur in engines that are STILL hand made.
Big JIm

 

[Bob Ayers]

Piston slap is the very least of my worries. With modern techniques, modern machinery, laser and cnc machines, making cylinders and pistons the same size over and over is a simple task!
Prolly only piston slap would occur in engines that are STILL hand made.
Big JIm

It affects 2006 models Big Jim!!!!......Even Northstar V-8s, GM's finest!

 

[scruffy1]

My 2001 3.0 has a leak at the timing cover also. I have the time. Is this going to involve pulling pulleys or other special tools? And how is there a leak at the timing cover? Is there a freeze plug in there? Don't see one in the manual.

 

[Big Jim M]

It affects 2006 models Big Jim!!!!......Even Northstar V-8s, GM's finest!

Which engines besides the northstar are you referring to, Bob? Isn't the northstar one of the hand made engines? Like the Corvette?
Big JIm

 

[Bob Ayers]

Piston slap is the very least of my worries. With modern techniques, modern machinery, laser and cnc machines, making cylinders and pistons the same size over and over is a simple task!
Prolly only piston slap would occur in engines that are STILL hand made.
Big JIm

If that's true Big Jim, why would GM decide to use old engine manufacturing processes that had worse tolerances for their "finest" - Cadillac Northstar?
And if you read the article I posted, it affects just about all the GM V-8s......so your "hand made" theory doesn't hold.

But this just makes sense to me, I will never own a GM product!!

 

[MFerioli]

Thanks for posting some replies to this thread. I went away and completely forgot that I asked for some suggestions from you guys, sorry for the late thanks. So I'm thinking I need the gasket, O2 safe RTV, a thermostat while I'm in there, new coolant....Anything else? Any special tools that I may not be aware of?
I've done many projects, just not any to this truck yet.

Thanks again,
Mike