chain covers difficult to remove

[rlane]

Everything has been going well with dropping the engine from the 78SC (Dilavar issues) but yesterday was at the point of removing the chain covers and with all bolts off and carrera oil feed tensioner lines removed the chain covers just don't want to budge. I have rubber malleted and used a wood block to loosen and in fact the 4-5-6 cylinder side has loosened but neither will come off. I am suspicious the PO used a sealant. I am hesitant to use a screwdriver to pry but am getting to wits end. I appreciate any suggestions.
PS. It got worse a few minutes later as I went to rotate the engine on the stand and was too tired and lazy to stand on the stand legs..sure enough the whole thing tipped over. The distributor took the brunt and is now "lopsided" and SC dizzys are not easy to find! dumb..lazy...dumb..should have quit when the frustration level was lower.

[rlane]

any good ideas before I head down there this afternoon?

[ChrisBennet]

Originally posted by rlane
Everything has been going well with dropping the engine from the 78SC (Dilavar issues) but yesterday was at the point of removing the chain covers and with all bolts off and carrera oil feed tensioner lines removed the chain covers just don't want to budge. I have rubber malleted and used a wood block to loosen and in fact the 4-5-6 cylinder side has loosened but neither will come off. I am suspicious the PO used a sealant. I am hesitant to use a screwdriver to pry but am getting to wits end. I appreciate any suggestions.
PS. It got worse a few minutes later as I went to rotate the engine on the stand and was too tired and lazy to stand on the stand legs..sure enough the whole thing tipped over. The distributor took the brunt and is now "lopsided" and SC dizzys are not easy to find! dumb..lazy...dumb..should have quit when the frustration level was lower.

First off, if you need to brace the engine stand by stepping on it, it's time to get a different engine stand before 500lbs of motor lands on your foot. (I hope I don't sound like I'm scolding you, I'm not. I am genuinely concerned for your safety.)

Even without sealant, the chainbox covers can take a little effort to get off sometimes. Usually it's just the O-ring for the tensioner.

Luckily I haven't been in your exact situation. If I was, I think I would try to carefully cut away the sealant as best I could with an Xacto knife. The left side chain cover has a (8mm?) threaded hole that I bet you could put a bolt in and pull on that.

If you have to pry, try something like a bodyshop plastic stick.

-Chris

[rlane]

I tend to agree on the engine stand...got it cheap at Hershey last year...yoiu get what you pay for!!
I was eyeing that bolt on the left side...and I will try the Xacto solution.
Thanks...and I deserve more than a scolding..to be honest it scared the crap out of me!

[john walker's workshop]

plastic hammer. wack the gasket joint kind of medium hard a couple of times in a downward swing. pops them right open.

[rlane]

Thanks JW, I will try all these methods in the AM ...got recruited to take multiple teenagers to the movies this afternoon!

[rlane]

Both came off with JW's advice...a hard swing with a rubber mallet!...still had to thread a bolt into the left side cover and "wiggle it a bit".
I am gonna post another question regarding the odd appearance of the idler arm "spacer"...appears that while I have the tensioner upgrade the PO did not use the upgraded idler arms...the "special spacer" that Wayne mentions has a couple of flattened spots on its circumference....isdeas on what might cause this?

[Tim Walsh]

Yep, plastic mallet to break it loose, then I use a vicegrip on the one rib (that the tinware attaches too) and pull. Comes right off and you don't have to worry about your mating surfaces.