OutsiderZ28

Is it possible to change out the timing Set (gears and chain) on a 2000 Z28 without messing with the oil pan? My Z28 has 206,000 miles and I would like to put a new timing set in it.

Next question, if the pan has to be dropped, is it doable in the car without having to raise the engine?

01CamaroSSTx

iTrader: (3)

You cannot drop the pan down low enough for removal without securing the engine and lowering the k-member. I've used a piece of steel 2"x 2" square tubing that's about 4-5 feet long to place on wooden 2x4 blocks placed on the strut towers and then use ratchet straps on the exhaust manifolds to support the engine. I also place a floor jack underneath with a block of wood on either the pan or the bottom of the timing cover before removing the through bolts and lowering the k-member. I've never tried to swap everything out with the engine in the car and my guess would be that the pickup tube bolt will be very hard to get onto with the tube and oil pan in the way but I could be wrong.

Why not just replace the chain? What's your reason for replacing the timing gears and chain on an engine with 206,000 miles? I would save that for something like a new rebuild. Bottom line "If it isn't broke then don't fix it"

grinder11

iTrader: (1)

I can't say with certainty on F-bodies, but on my C5 Vette I did not lower the pan. I just centered the timing cover side to side, because the cover pulls down and stops on the metal of the pan gasket. So my way of thinking is the vertical alignment takes care of itself when the 2 bottom bolts thru the pan and into the front cover pull the cover down to, and the cover stops against, the metal part of the gasket. I have no leaks, so not all is wrong.......