OutsiderIROC-Z

I searched on this and couldn't really find the answer I was looking for, so here goes.

I am going to be replacing the Opti in my 95 Z28 in the next month or so. How much more work would I be looking at to put a new timing set in it while the rest of the front of the motor is off? Will the front cover come off without dropping the pan down? Thanks in advance.

Daryn95Z

If you want to replace the timing chain set you have to drop the pan, it's a little more work but really not to bad. If you take it that far you might as well throw in a cam.

Z95m6

Ditto, you have to drop the pan and risk tearing the gasket. I would do the chain unless you are doing a cam.

y5e06

It sounds simple. However, I've dropped my fair share of oil pans, LT1's included. I never had the case of the gasket not tearing when dropping the pan. Thats an invite to serious (very annoying) oil leaks. If you could completely drop the pan (any car other an F-body) then I'd say go for it. Other wise I'd say just do the opti and timing cover seals. How many miles do you have on your engine? You'd be suprised how well they hold up. The last one I pulled on my corvette had 113K miles and was immaculate.

y5e06

oh, if your car is an auto you might be able to pull the pan completely out (so I've heard), clean the surfaces, and replace the pan gasket. All my experiences w/ f-bodies are w/ 6 speeds and you can't do that.
Realize the pan & gasket seats into a grove in the timing cover. You *might* be able to get the cover off w/o dropping the pan but there is still a high probability you won't get a good seal when your done.

shoebox

You can remove and loosen enough bolts where you don't have to drop the whole pan for clearance to get the timing cover off.

ROWYCO

I replaced the timing chain without dropping the pan. I tried at first to drop the pan but rounded off a bolt on it. The bolt was in the back so it droped maybe a 1/4 inch. It was a pain in the *** to get the cover back on with the oil pan up, but i did it and have had no leaks. Maybe im just lucky

sdowney

i unfortunatly just finished doing this myself. i figured the same thing and would have been fine ifd the auto parts store had given me the right timing chain. i have a 1004 lt1 and the timing gear drives the opti. i did not notice until i had the car back to gether and it would not start. so i had to pull it all apart AGIAN AND WHEN I TOOK IT APART THE SECOND TIME the front seal below the timing cover broke..........i ended up takingit to the shop and letting them replace the gasket and put it back together. oh by the way it is still missing out.....i am going nuts

OutsiderIROC-Z

Mine turned over 175,000 a few weeks ago.

QUASARBLUEZ28

I was able to do mine witout dropping the pan, but be prepared to do it if you trash the gasket. I just got lucky is all.
I took my time in that area and did not tear the gasket up.
When I put the cover back on, I used RTV after being sure the gasket was as free of oil as I could get it. Brake parts cleaner works wonders.