went to auto zone and got a harmonic balancer installer to press on the crankshaft timing gear. i was told that most timing gears just slide on pretty easy. the way this installer is set up, the only way i can press the gear on is to use the harmonic balancer. the "installer" is too big to thread into the harmonic balancer so it has adapters that threads in and is held by a 3/8" bolt. i'm about 1/8" away from the gear and the harmonic balancer is so tight i'm afraid i'm going to break the 3/8" bolt. i sanded the crank by hand to get rid of the rough spots and greased both the gear and harmonic balancer. i haven't even started to press on the gear yet. i would have to take a dremel to the crank to get them both to go on. anybody out there have this much trouble? thanks!

They are tight, but if you keep both gears in close alignment, they will go on. I use a piece of wood and a hammer to carefully drive it on.

i noticed when i got the gear puller to take off the gear that it was REALLY stuck on there. i even mentioned it in another post. same with the harmonic balancer, it was real hard to break loose. it reminded me of when i took the brake drums off my "62" willys jeep(for those of you who have do that and know what i'm talking about). both the gear and the balancer sounded like "CRACK" when they finally broke loose. seriously, i'm considering sanding the "key" down (although i'll lose the markings). if that doesn't work i'll have no choice but to sand down the crank shaft then find a way to press them on one at a time hopefully without breaking any tools. i guess thats just the way it is with some old cars...so be it. thanks.

My car is 10 years older and I did not sand anything.
If the tool won't work, get another tool.

Sand to fit does not sound like a good idea.

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"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

what i do is i use a micro-polish and just polish it. that will take any rust, pitting or corrosion off and make it smooth. maybe a quick acid dip would work... otherwise, my only other option would be to take the crankshaft out and have the gear pressed on. if i had to do that i would have to consider having the whole engine rebuilt. thanks!

Put the gear in the oven, and get it nice and hot...
It should go on easyer

Rust Collector: i would have never thought of that.... thanks!

Screw the installer. Just get a big crank bolt from a small-block and cut it down or stack up washers and put the dang things (balancer and gear) on. The oven deal will help, too. If you dont want to put the balancer on yet (cause you'll just be pulling it back off), use a big piece of pipe to smack the gear on. It shouldn't be difficult to do this.

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

Dennis: yep! that what i've been reading... i had one guy tell me he pulled his harmonic balancer off by hand. i'm going to have to check around, i went to "ace hardware" and they didn't have the bolt for the crankshaft. i sure hope i get thing done today. i'm gonna pull all this off again soon anyway. i'm gonna get her started to see if the timing chain took care of my problem and see where i'm at. if it did, then i gotta order Dutras, intake manifold, carb., cam, lifters, springs, ect. and i might as well drive her and work on other stuff (suspension) while i'm waiting for all the orders to come in. thanks!

well, after about 6 hours of running around and working on the car. i got the bolts i needed, made my own special tools, but i finally have the timing gears on and torqued. at this rate i should have "her" buttoned up and running by say.... May, next year. thanks for all your help!

My own secret formula for figuring labor time when working on my junk:

(where a = time job should take by a competent person with all requisite tools under ideal conditions, b = number of hidden locations that tools and equipment could be located, c = closing time of hardware store and/or Idiot Auto Parts, d = relative humidity, and e = friends that come by to see what I'm up to and shoot the s#i+, x = unknown variable controlled by the graemlins)

x[a(b^2 + e) + d^3 X (sq. rt.)c]

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

Now THAT's science!

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

when i went to the "hardware store" for a bolt, i had to explain to the "hardware man" what "threads per inch" was (i doubt that he got it). the tool i got at the auto store would have never worked.... the 3/4" bolts i bought were strong enough to do the job, but i had to drive ten miles to get them. the friend who said he would help me when i needed him was busy yesterday (no big deal). i like working on old cars but i try to pace myself. i focus on trying to do the job right (not necessarily perfect), even if it's the first time i've done it, rather that just getting it done. of course i was joking about taking until "May" of next year to get my car running (i always forget to put "lol" after a joke). actually, last night my buddy came over and said that he was impressed with the fact that i didn't get pi#*ed at the car and that i didn't give up. i told him (joking) that i'm glad i didn't have to baby sit him while i worked on my car. truth is the heat doesn't really bother me but funny thing is i'm outside all alone not one child was outside playing (i miss the laughter). i felt good about the work done, i'm getting to know this car pretty well, and soon i hope to start "her" up. today i try to take off the oil pan. nothing ventured... nothing gained. thanks, for you help!

I'll trade you some nasty, miserable, amazon central GA humidity for some AZ blast furnace...

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

Dennis, no thanks! in a week or two we will have the "monsoon" season here. some days it rains in the morning just enough to make it humid and dirty your car, then it heats up. thats when i like going to work where there's a/c.