1960s Checked the slack in my timing chain

[badpoints]

I checked the slack and it is 10 degrees . Not going to run the engine again until I install a new timing chain set . Does anyone know a good source for a 67 429 timing chain set

[Poncholover]

Perhaps your engine still has the old Nylon Cam gear?
If you can find an NOS chain, so much the better.

[badpoints]

Off to a bad start. I snapped a bolt taking the alternator off. It is the lower alternator bracket and the bolt broke off in the exhaust manifold. Now I am going to have to remove the exhaust manifold. I am also worried about removing the harmonic balancer. What is the best way to keep the engine from turning?

[bcroe]

Exhaust manifolds are a pain.  To hold crank position
I have 1.5 in angle iron perhaps 16 in long, in which
I drilled a couple holes so it could screw to the
balancer.  There are 4 edges at the ends, drilled
and ground to fit various situations. 

For the balancer, I have tools custom designed as
needed for my engines.  I think hole pattern
might come off a pulley.  good luck, Bruce Roe

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

One way is to have a second person hold a large screw driver against the teeth of the Ring Gear and the bottom of the block to lock the crankshaft from turning.

Not sure if there is a cover plate in front of the Flex Plate behind the Sump, or another access point without removing the Starter Motor.

Then another method is to jam a lever between the puller face and the chassis to stop the rotation at the front.

Bruce.

[badpoints]

I think that I have opened a big can of worms when I checked the slack in my timing chain. The engine runs good.
I am now on the fence about trying to fix in the car or pulling the engine. I haven't pulled an engine in 30 years.

[TJ Hopland]

Do you know if its a plastic gear?  If it is there is a good chance of a sudden failure.  How bad that would be the next question is does anyone know if this is an 'interference' engine?  Interference means will the valves hit the pistons if the cam goes out of time?  If its metal and worn thats not great but its less likely to suddenly fail.  I presume like the 472's you could pull the distributor and with a mirror or borescope look down the hole and see what you got for a gear. 

I think the 429 timing covers can also be a can of worms, not as bad as the previous 390 with the water pump bolts and connections but still can have issues and I think they are hard to come by. 

Is this an Eldo?  I don't know about 67 overall but a non Eldo should be an easier job to do it in the car.  Eldo is usually worse because you can't get the oil pan off in the car. 

If its been 30 years since you have pulled an engine it may not be something you want to tackle especially a big heavy one like this.  An inline 6 would be a different story.  At least a 67 isn't too bad with extra wires and hoses.  I'm working on a 98 now and the actual in and out was just a day with a helper and not that horrible but they days of the wires and hoses are the real killer physically and mentally.  Laying on the ground with no light, clearance, and climate control isn't gonna be like it was 30 years ago either.  Or have you got a lift and gantry crane in the last 30 years for your climate controlled shop?

[badpoints]

It is a Sedan DeVille. I have an engine hoist and a cold garage. Have to figure out how to manage space in the garage.
The garage is 20' wide and 40' deep, I also have a pop up camper in the garage and I play poker down the end of the garage every Friday night. I need to be able to push the car forward when I need to pull another car in and back for Friday nights. The camper is old and I could store it outside but I think mice will get into it.

[TJ Hopland]

How much space is there between the firewall and back of the engine like to access the bell housing bolts?  What are there for options to support the transmission while the engine is out?  You don't want anything going to the ground because as you lift the engine the suspension will raise.  If you are going to support from the ground you will also want the car supported from the frame, not the wheels.  The other bonus if you can support it from the frame you will be able to roll it around while its out.

Check out a 'tool' like this.  Its intended use is that the feet would sit on the hood lip of the fenders and the hooks would support the engine while the trans was removed.  If there is room it may also be able to support a trans from the top but what I did on my last project was literally flipped everything.  I moved the feet to the inside and the hooks to the outside.  I put the feet on basically the trans pan bolts and hooked the hooks to the frame.  Worked great because I was able to use the big nuts on the hooks to adjust the height to help get things aligned going back in.  THM400 not having a square pan may take a little more creativity there but its a pretty flexible tool with a lot of options.


https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/lifts-cranes-stands/engine-stands/1000-lb-capacity-engine-support-bar-96524.html

[bcroe]

I am now on the fence about trying to fix in the car or pulling the engine.

I do not see why you want to pull the engine.  Bruce Roe

[badpoints]

I do not see why you want to pull the engine.  Bruce Roe

I think the broken bolt on the exhaust manifold is scaring me. I am putting everything back together now so that I can turn the car around and put it in a better spot. I am going to attempt to fix everything without removing the engine and leave removal as a last resort. The engine does look easy to remove. There is a lot of room between the engine and firewall.

[badpoints]

Have the car in a good spot. I am going to wait until spring to change the timing chain, it is way to cold in the garage.

[bcroe]

 To pul the Cd engine I use a pair of supports under
the engine and trans as they are uncoupled.  Nothing
but a couple anble irons bolted together with a spacer,
the theaded hooks connect to the frame, and are
adjusted till a block of wood in the center supports
either the engine or trans.  On an Old I only need one,
since the engine mounts are centered.  Bruce Roe