Alright problem, i have a 2001 5.2 1500, a few weeks ago i was doing the monthly grocery run we'll say 20 miles when i got out of the store from buying said groceries i noticed a substantial puddle under my truck, coolant and a stream (not a drip) coming down the front of the engine. drove back home popped the hood and tried to figure out where it was coming from. to dang dirty to get a good idea, so i got on the forum and started reading. a few articles later i decided to replace my bypass hose and the metal bit of the return line and clean things up for further observations. did that drive around a while park and observe. still leaking but only a drip (and my check engine light went away, good things) i finally narrow it down to a leaking timing chain cover casket on the passenger side. confirmed that with the local mechanics. decided to sit on it a while to see if it changed i wont need it for anything more that a couple mile commute to work. today i took that same drive to the same spot and, No puddle? so i drive home, again no puddle. hood popped i can see that it still has coolant in the same area but not the stream it had before, not even a drip odd. been watching it cool down for the last couple hours and no puddle forming (yes it is topped off with coolant.)
all that bs to ask this. i'm taking this truck (or plan to) on a 900 mile trip. could i leave it be and just make sure everything stays topped off, is there a cheap hi temp calking i could use? note that the trip is one way i'll be bringing something else back, (not technically my truck) and i've got other trucks that could use the money it'd take to do this repair. this is an opinion question pros cons possible worst scenario sorta thing what is the forums opinion on what i should do.?

 

you do any wrenching yourself? Timin cover gasket and timing chain cover is a pretty easy day job. Pretty cheap too less then a 100 bucks for everything

 

amusingly i have all of the parts for the job minus the tools and know how.

 

oh well, idk how much a mechanic would charge. It would be a several hour job probably. Whole front bracket and harmonic balancer has to come off.

Have any wrenching buddies you could pay in beer? lol

I would not drive that far with it like that IMO.

 

Gotta agree here. Driving like that is just asking for an overheated motor.... and cracked heads. A 100 dollar repair (doing it yourself) becomes a 800 dollar repair...... If you can't find someone to help you with it, find a good garage around your area to do it up. Looking at around 5 hours labor..... depending on how berzerck they wanna get.

 

Heck, you can do this one yourself. I did it for crying out loud! It really is more intimidating thinking about it than actually doing it. Since it's not a keeper you wouldn't necessarily have to change out the timing chain and gears while you have the timing cover off, but I would, it's only like $45 extra for that. Pavement sucks has a good article with pictures on the procedure. Just plan to give up a day to do this (5 or 6 hours).

I agree with everyone else, I wouldn't go on the trip. Don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with an overheated truck beating yourself up for not having done this.

 

alright i guess i'll do it. i'm always extremely nervous before i start anything. what specialty tools will i need for this job to get the harmonic off and such? also the book recommends doing this procedure with the engine at top dead center (tdc) how necessary is that? its something else i haven't done before. lol

 

Have you gone to Pavement Sucks website yet? Good articles on lots of stuff for our trucks. Good pictures through the whole process. I needed to replace my radiator at the same time I did my repair so while I had it out it was WAY easier to get to everything. TDC can be checked before disassembly by making sure your rotor under your distributor cap is pointed at the number one terminal (the terminal next to the mark on the cap). But it's easier when you get the timing chain cover off and line up the marks on the cam and crank gears. Tdc is important if your clumsy like me. Truthfully it's as easy as pulling off the old gears and chain and slipping on the new ones. there are keys on the cam and crankshafts that will fit only one way unless you get a gear set that can be adjusted(like mine). I just set mine up for no advance or retard. Read the Pavement Sucks article, it'll explain a lot of this. Got questions afterward? I and probably some much more knowledgeable people will help you out.

 

Are there any tty bolts in this process, it's not mentioned in the PS article but i figure i'd better ask.

 

as far as i know the only tty bolts on this truck are the intake manifold bolts