Hi all,

My 2001 Dakota with the 4.7L and 198,000 miles started to overheat on warm days last summer. so I figured it was the water pump, and yesterday took off the pump to change it, and found that the timing cover was pitted around and behind the pump impeller.

A few questions:

1) At the top of the picture (in the water pump cavity) there appears to be a small hole forming. Could this lead into the timing chain space?

2) In the center of the picture is a threaded hole. Is that normal, or is there supposed to be something in there?

3) If I were to change out the timing cover, what else should I plan to do - crankshaft sleeve, timing chain, new sprockets?

4) What kind of job am I in for if I do this myself?

Thanks for looking...And also, if anyone has a good parts site to purchase the timing cover from, I'd be interested. RockAuto doesn't seem to have one.

 

for some reason this did not get attached...

 

I have a spare timing cover I pulled off my 2004. I bought a second one and had it powder coated and put it on my truck send me a pm if interested

 

Looks like you had something banging around inside that thing and chewed it but good

Yea that needs replaced

 

yikes that looks terrible engine flush after your done and while your at it take your oil pan off. You probably have metal chunks in there. Might as well replace the chain and sprockets while your there