My '97 Ram has a leak between the timing chain cover & block. I'm fair mechanic - have replaced water pumps, altenators, radiators, etc. Is there anything tricky or special tools needed to fix this leak? I imagine that as long as I'm that far, it is just as well to replace the timing chain assembly & water pump. I plan to remove the radiator, drain the oil, remove the water pump, remove the timing chain cover, replace the timing chain assembly & water pump & put it all back together.

Thoughts & comments?

Thanks,
Mike

 

you may want to get an extra oil pan gasket just in case.. they're easy to tear if you're not careful.

 

When I did mine, I didn't have to remove the Radiator. Once you have the fan and shroud out of the way, there is plenty of room.

I was rather impressed with the performance difference after replacing the chain and gears. My truck has 165K miles though, and they were still original. Lots of slop.... I picked up a good lifetime warranty double roller set from advance auto (.25 roller diameter), and installed them straight up. No special tools required. (I did it in my driveway, with just basic hand tools.)

One thing to make your life easier is, before you remove the ones that are on their, turn the crank so that the dots on the gears are lined up. Takes the guesswork out of putting on the new ones.

You will need some flavor of gear puller to get the harmonic dampener off. You can probably just rent one from the local national chain parts store. You want the one that actually bolts to the dampener, not the jaw puller.

Timing cover tends to oxidize around the coolant ports, and they get pitted..... make sure to use a good bead of silicone sealant on both sides of the gasket.

Not really a bad job though. Two to three hours if the weather is reasonable, and nothing breaks.....

Welcome to DF.

 

Thanks for the tips and warm welcome! Do I need to remove the oil pan? What about the power steering pump?

Mike

 

Oil pan and power steering pump stay, Make sure you get the chain tensioner as well when you get the t chain 98 and under did not come with them.

 

no just the two front blots in the front of the oil pan, they go thro into the timimg cover

power steering pump goes no were

i had to a puller on the crank gear when doing my t-timing

 

Don't have to remove either one. Just the alt, a/c compressor, and the bracket they sit on. Once those are out of the way, it is just a fistful of bolts. Be prepared for coolant to come out of some of them though.... a fair number of the bolts go into the water jacket. Just draining the radiator will not lower the level in the engine enough to prevent it.

Getting the fan off can be fun...... it is threaded onto the water pump shaft. There is a special tool for just such an occasion... I used a chain wrench on the w/p pulley, others have used various flavors of strap wrenches.

when putting it all back together, set the timing cover in place, put all the bolts in, and then tighten the two that go thru the oil pan FIRST. Then work on the rest of them.

Have fun!

 

all the above, plus you'll need a harmonic balance puller, a 1-1/4 inch socket, and an impact wrench to remove/reinstall the crank bolt. when using the puller, reinstall the crank bolt so the puller doesn't **** up the threads in the end of the crank.

someone built a very clever tool to hold the fan pulley. just a hook into the hole in the pulley.

if you've never fixed your plenum - this is a good time to do it since you'll have all the stuff off the top and front of the engine. its just a few more bolts to remove and fix the intake. the problem is deciding where to stop.

i haven't posted this in awhile...
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...ater-pump.html

 

Watch the crank key...It likes to pop out and fall into the oil pan...Don't ask me how I know.

 

That's what little girls with VERY small hands are for. yeah. Been there, done that.