4 cylinder pushrod cover replacement?

[Simoniz]

I need to replace the pushrod cover on my 3.0l engine no OL 634881. It looks like I have (just) enough room to get the old cover off, and the new one on without removing the distributor, and disturbing and having to reset the timing. Is this a reasonable way to do it, or am I going to run into problems in sliding the cover into place behind the distributor, and fixing it to the block?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Holding the gasket in place might be tough,.....

What happened to the original cover,.....

 

[Scott06]

As bondo states holding the gasket and cover vertical may be a pain.

You could either put bolts in it to hold the gasket or glue the gasket to the cover with RTV or gasket adhesive, let that set up then put it on.

You can always try it with the dizzy in place and take it out only if needed. Removing the cap and rotor may help free up some space

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would pull the distributor to give yourself some room.

agree with Bondo, what happened to the original cover?

 

[Lou C]

If you do pull the distributor set it at TDC for #1 cyl and mark the position of the rotor on the distributor body so you don't mix it up! Mark both the body of the distributor to the block and the rotor to the distributor before pulling it out!

 

[Simoniz]

Ayuh,..... Holding the gasket in place might be tough,.....

What happened to the original cover,.....

I would pull the distributor to give yourself some room.

agree with Bondo, what happened to the original cover?

Cheers, fellahs. Looks a bit cruddy at one corner, oil leak, guessing rusted through.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would see if you can repair what you have.

Post a pic

 

[Simoniz]

I would see if you can repair what you have.

Post a pic

Hmm, maybe, but I have a feeling that it's rusted through at the edge / corner, so would be difficult to repair such that it would seal against the gasket. Ill have a look and post a pic, but it wont be for a couple of weeks, as Im no where near the boat at the moment.

 

[Simoniz]

So Ive got round to doing this job. Im not sure yet, but I think the distributor has got to come out; theres a thin chance that I can wiggle the cover out if I remove the ignition coil and solenoid, but Ive got to order a 12 point socket to remove all that stuff. Im in Europe and a 10mm ring spanner is too loose and a 9mm wont go on, so Im assuming those bolts are 3/8'?

Also my manual shows a special distributor tool to loosen the bolt which holds the distributor retaining plate to the engine. Do I need this, or can I get away with a ring spanner? Again, what size would this be please?

 

[Lou C]

It's probably your classic Chevy/Ford distributor wrench, one side is 1/2" the other is 9/16ths. Can't recall which is which right now lol.

 

[Lou C]

Here's what I am talking about. I bought one just like it in, oh, 1974 or so for our small block Chevy but also had a Ford 302 V8 that it worked on. The coupling between the 2 ends fits into a 3/8ths drive ratchet. Very handy! The 90* bend side is Ford, the other is Chevy.

 

[Simoniz]

View attachment 415531

Here's what I am talking about. I bought one just like it in, oh, 1974 or so for our small block Chevy but also had a Ford 302 V8 that it worked on. The coupling between the 2 ends fits into a 3/8ths drive ratchet. Very handy! The 90* bend side is Ford, the other is Chevy.

OK cheers. Cant really see why I cant come in from the side with a flat ring spanner, unless anyone knows a good reason why not. The bolt is bound to be stuck in anyway, so more fun and games ahead!

 

[Simoniz]

For those that were asking about some pics, here’s a view of the cover, and the distributor with the cap off. There’s very little room behind it, but it might come out upwards once the coil, etc which is in the way has been removed.

You can see the rusted corner (top left) if you zoom in.

 

[Lou C]

OK cheers. Cant really see why I cant come in from the side with a flat ring spanner, unless anyone knows a good reason why not. The bolt is bound to be stuck in anyway, so more fun and games ahead!

flat ring spanner = box end wrench lol in US speak.
that pic I posted is for Chevrolet & Ford V8s where there was more stuff in the way of the bolt, on that inline 4 cyl your regular box end wrench should work...it all depends on what other "stuff" is in the way. I looked at some pix of 3.0s on Michigan Motorz website and can't get a good enough look to say. On the V8s, there's no way you're doing it without the right wrench though, that I know for sure.

 

[Scott06]

For those that were asking about some pics, here’s a view of the cover, and the distributor with the cap off. There’s very little room behind it, but it might come out upwards once the coil, etc which is in the way has been removed.

You can see the rusted corner (top left) if you zoom in.

willing to bet if you take cap rotor and coil off you should be able to get the covers off with out pulling the dizzy. Its been a few years since I had my 3.0 ...

If you do need to pull it yes 3/8 is close to 10 mm.

No pic came through

 

[Scott Danforth]

a standard m14 or 9/16" "ring spanner" will work. however you may need to bend it for clearance, hence the "special tool" moniker

key to removing the distributor to help you get it back in easily.:

• manually rotate the motor to TDC on cylinder #1
• mark the location of the rotor on the dizzy body when you pull the cap
• as you pull the distributor, mark the body where the distributor ends up once the gears come out of mesh.

this is just a 30 minute job to crack a beer, pull pull the distributor, and removing the cover.

if you drop a screw in the bilge, it will take you longer to find the screw than it will to do the whole job.

you have this

 

[Simoniz]

Thanks for al, the replies. Theres all the room in the world to get a ring spanner on the distributor bolt, so I'll have a go with that, if necessary. Have not yet given up hope that when I remove the coil and the other stuff in the way, that the cover will come out, leaving the dizzy in place.
Couldn't post pic - too large, will see if I can reduce its size and post.