carlskisWP

My chain case covers are leaking a bit of oil and I would like to replace them myself.

I have read a couple of good threads:

Big Mike's reseal thread
https://rennlist.com/forums/964-foru...al-thread.html

and on the Pelican forum:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...es-thread.html

But I still have some questions: Does the pulley/balancer bolt have to be removed to get the covers off (left or right)? Or does the pulley have to come off to get the AC bracket off? Does the distributor need to be removed? The above threads note both but it looks like the covers can be accessed just by removing the bumper, cat, and primary muffler (and right motor mount), which I have done before without problems. Removing the dizzy and pulley make me a bit more anxious and the reseals described in the those threads were more than just chain cases.

There is probably a good thread just on removing the chain case covers, but I wasnt able to find it.

BTW I was thinking of ordering the chain cover gasket set sold by Pelican that Big Mike refers to.

Thanks for any info.

Vandit

It's the right side timing chain cover that is the issue since it hangs out behind the a/c compressor bracket.

The distributor does not need to come off.

I covered it a bit in my thread too. I ended up removing the harmonic balancer to remove the a/c bracket, and while I had the a/c bracket out, I modified the bracket so that I would not have to remove the balancer in the future.
https://rennlist.com/forums/964-foru...g-project.html

Some people have been able to get to it w/o disturbing the a/c compressor bracket.
https://rennlist.com/forums/964-foru...-system-2.html
Read post #30.

carlskisWP

Ah yes I should have guessed "the smart guys at Porsche engineered the bracket so that it cannot be removed w/o removing the crank pulley/harmonic balancer."

Thanks Vandit, and great pics.

Maybe I'll just do the left side for fun.

jevvy964

Just a thought..If you can remove the ac bracket studs (double nut or whatever) then you can remove the ac bracket without pulling the pulley. You do of course have to refit the studs with the bracket in place or you wont be able to refit it(because of the pulley being in the way).

Neither option is much fun with both having potential ****-up costs associated but studs are cheaper than harmonic balancers.

YaHoo!

I was able to change the chain case gasket without removing a/c bracket. Just a little tight with one bolt but totally doable. Of course then you miss the opportunity to replace the main crank seal

jevvy964

risk/reward meter turned right up to 10 on that one

carlskisWP

Yahoo (or others who have removed the right cover with the AC bracket in place)

Did you loosen the AC bracket as much as you could so that it can be pulled back a bit to give the cover more clearance? Saw that mentioned on another thread but I'm wondering how tight the clearance is.

Flea18

I've got a reseal on my near term project list - one you have the harmonic balancer off, how difficult is it to replace the main crank seal?

YaHoo!

Yes, worked like a charm.

Flea18

So I replaced the timing chain cover gaskets and fitted new o-rings to each of the fasteners, after putting it all back together there is still a leak from the bottom bolts. Went back to the PET and saw the tube of sealing compound, aka Loctite 5900, which I had evidently missed. Anybody have luck resealing the covers without using this stuff in addition to the gaskets?

-nick

My leaks are coming from the oil bridge gaskets and the gaskets between the case and chain housings. Did you get to these? The latter requires removing the cam sprockets.

Here are the recommendations for sealants-
Cam Chain Housings to Case: gaskets Loctite 574
Cam Chain Housings to Cam Towers: gasket Loctite 574
Cam Chain Housing Cover to Cam Chain Housing: Gasket Loctite574
Cam o-ring seal behind sprockets: Dow Corning 55

JasonAndreas

Over-tightened?

Using an anaerobic sealant with an elastomeric gasket? That usually ends up causing more problems than it solves. There are even warnings from Porsche back-in-the-day when the dealer mechanics started using it on valve cover gaskets!

Flea18

Originally I had hoped (bad idea?) to get by with just the cover gaskets and o-rings, so no. Although if I go back I might as well. Was the sprocket removal/replace a challenge? Looks like I may have a leak in the chain adjuster gasket, too, but that seems easy to get to.

Between the a/c bracket and those fastener o-rings, I am not looking forward to going back in, but at least I've gotten to practice once.

Probably worthwhile to check the covers for warping with a straightedge, too.

Flea18

Jason - I hadn't considered over tightening. I don't suppose you have a torque spec?

JasonAndreas

5.5Nm / 4 ft.lbs