process of installing a timing chain

[SarahCraziness]

i have realized i am going to have to replace my timing chain very soon, the car is a 1986 oldsmobile cutlass supreme brougham the engine is a 5.0 V8 carb engine. i just don’t want to do the job the wrong way then have to take it all apart to do it all over again, if anyone has tips lemme hear them please =)

Topic

[yarddog1950]

Sarah, Your car was built right around the time when Oldsmobiles came with either the Olds V8 as well as the Chevy V8. When Olds first started doing this, some buyers discovered Chevy engines under their hoods and claimed they had been misled and cheated.
Do you know which engine you have? You can go to Google images and enter “Chevy V8 ” 305 or 350. Or enter “Oldsmobile V8” 307 or 1986. The Chevy V8 is easy to spot because it has “ram’s horn” exhaust manifolds and exhaust ports that are not equidistant. I imagine you know this already, but I also remember that beginners get terrible advice from other beginners and tend to believe it when it comes from someone a few years older.
I’ve assembled Chevy and Olds V8s and I’ve replaced a Chevy V8 timing set without removing the engine. I think we can find a video that will show you how to do this.
There’s a special tool for R&R of the front balancer on the Chevy V8. You can buy or rent it but it’s very risky to shortcut the tool (been there, done that).
I’ll see if I can find a video for you. I’ll have a couple of suggestions for your carburetor question too.

[EricTheCarGuy]

Good advice posted above, it appears Yarddog1950 is becoming our GM expert. I was also going to mention that the crank pulley was probably going to give you the most trouble and having the special removal tool makes all the difference. You might also consider replacing the water pump at the same time since you have to remove it anyway. Also the original gears had a nylon coating to keep things quiet, I think you’ll find that it’s this coating that has worn away causing the slack in the chain, you might consider replacing it with a set that does not have the nylon coating so that it lasts longer. Another thing to consider is replacing the cam and lifters while you’re in there as it’s just a few more steps such as removing the intake manifold. I know were’ just about rebuilding this thing at this point but it’s just something to consider.

[Trcustoms719]

This style timing chain is very easy.
You will need a harmonic balancer pulley puller to remove the pulley.
As Eric said above it would be a good idea to replace the timing gears and water pump and belt while you have it a part.
Good luck and please keep us posted.T)

PS: we all love to see pictures and or video(s) of the work people are doing.

[SarahCraziness]

well if you all want to see pictures i’ll post them =) however i am kind of camera shy so ill probly have the camera hung where you see just the engine lol and the in response to yard dog, i have the 307, also only have 1 oxygen sensor (which is next to the block, if ya have this engine don’t try to change that sensor when hot lol learned that the hard way)

thanks guys i’m just about melting in my shoes here from how nice everyone is, this is going to become my home page =)

stay dirty everyone and keep the advice coming i’ll need all i can get and so will everyone else.

Sarah

[SarahCraziness]

also i never replaced a cam before so i’d be a tad nervous if anyone has any advice on it i’ll be open to it all =P

[Trcustoms719]

Pics of just the engine is fine.
I don’t like being in front of a camera either.
Do you or have you thought about buying a service manual for your car?
Another user posted a link to a site where you can get free repair info for all cars (maybe who ever it was will chime in).

[yarddog1950]

Thank you, Eric. I could hardly claim to be expert in GM, but I know a bit about old Chevy, Olds, and Pontiac engines. 1950 is the year I was born and I had some professional experience with Alfa Romeo twin cam engines with side draft Webers and mechanical fuel injection (1960s and early 70s cars).
My most valuable experience came from hours of watching professional mechanics work on imported cars mostly, so I am naturally very impressed with your videos. I learned from books, an auto shop class, pros who were willing to answer questions, and from trial and error, but watching was invaluable experience, and I know few of us were able to do much of that before the internet, and YouTube, and excellent videos like yours.
I overhauled several Alfa engines with modifications before attempting a V8, but those are all easy compared today’s engines.

The Chevy small block V8 has a timing chain cover that seals against the oil pan, so there’s additional hassle when you replace the timing set with the engine in the car. You have drop the front of the oil pan down, something I wouldn’t recommend trying without watching a video first. The Olds engine doesn’t have this problem. There’s a tool for re-installing the front balancer on a Chevy small block. I don’t remember if the Olds uses the same tool or a similar one.

[yarddog1950]

[url=http://blog.al.com/engine-block/2009/03/72%20engine.jpg:7lnefh0y]http://blog.al.com/engine-block/2009/03/72%20engine.jpg

S[/url]arah, Here’s a pic of a Chevy 307. Note the rusty ram’s horn exhaust manifold and it sits directly under the the red valve cover. The Olds V8 looks similar, but everything is more massive including the cylinder head, so the Olds exhaust manifold sits about an inch and half from the valve cover.
I think your engine must be an Olds 307.
You don’t need to post pics of your motor and long as you’re sure it’s not a Chevy small block.
You can look for videos on Google for “Oldsmobile V8 timing chain”. The size of the engine doesn’t matter as long as it’s Olds. There’s one about an Olds 455 that shows you what the chain looks like with the cover off.

[yarddog1950]

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex_yJ_V5UH8&feature=related:10pt4rld]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex_yJ_V5UH8&feature=related
C[/url]heck out this video about re-installing a balancer with a special tool. This a Chevy V8 and he’s left the timing cover off so you get a better view.

[yarddog1950]

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QORm5fnCvYA:32cw3dhe]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QORm5fnCvYA
H[/url]ere’s removal of the balancer. A Chevy V8 again but it’s the same operation on other engines.

[yarddog1950]

http://sdparts.com/category/moroso-harmonic-balancer-installer
Moroso has an installer for an Olds engine. You’d be better off renting one. You can rent or buy a puller. Even harbor freight would have an adequate puller.
I hear some Olds engines don’t need an installer and the balancer just slips on. It’s much harder to find someone with knowledge of old V8s than it is to find someone with knowledge of the Chevy small block.

[EricTheCarGuy]

I just have to say that it’s really great to see this forum working like it was suppose to, thanks everybody for participating. Yarddog is right, the oil pan can be a pain and you do have to drop it down to get the timing cover off, I also don’t remember if some of those timing cover bolts need RTV sealant when you install them, the rule is that if they go into a coolant passage then it’s a good idea to coat the threads with RTV before installing them.

[SarahCraziness]

i’m embarassed to ask but i’d rather look like an idiot and know than to not ask, where can i get RTV?

[Trcustoms719]

Quoted From SarahCraziness:

i’m embarassed to ask but i’d rather look like an idiot and know than to not ask, where can i get RTV?

Any auto parts stores or even wal-mart in the auto section.

[SarahCraziness]

Quoted From yarddog1950:

[url=http://blog.al.com/engine-block/2009/03/72%20engine.jpg:3l1s8jwf]http://blog.al.com/engine-block/2009/03/72%20engine.jpg

S[/url]arah, Here’s a pic of a Chevy 307. Note the rusty ram’s horn exhaust manifold and it sits directly under the the red valve cover. The Olds V8 looks similar, but everything is more massive including the cylinder head, so the Olds exhaust manifold sits about an inch and half from the valve cover.
I think your engine must be an Olds 307.
You don’t need to post pics of your motor and long as you’re sure it’s not a Chevy small block.
You can look for videos on Google for “Oldsmobile V8 timing chain”. The size of the engine doesn’t matter as long as it’s Olds. There’s one about an Olds 455 that shows you what the chain looks like with the cover off.

0.0 wow i gotta say that looks almost exact just my valve covers and engine tops isn’t orange lol

i have no problem posting pics of my car and engine =P

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