I know some of you are fanatics ( I mean that in a good way) when you fix your cars go all the way or go home. I will be getting my timing chain cover replaced soon. Should I replace the oil pump parts while it is apart or can I reuse them? I will be doing the timing chain if is needed. The shop that is doing the work seems to think I prob do not need to replace oil pump parts if there are no issues. Based on my other post yesterday on my oil pressure numbers the pump and the over motor all has decent pressure.
Rebuilding the oil pump and setting the clearances is part of timing cover replacement. Do the job right the first time and you won't have a problem. That's not being fanatical, it's being smart. At bare minimum, I'd get the oil pump shim kit if you want to reuse your gears. http://www.taperformance.com/proddetail.asp?prod=TA_1704 http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/oil-pump-clearances-and-oil-pressure.326597/
If nothing is broke/damaged on timing cover, theres no need to replace it, especially if oil pressure is good. Do you have a damaged timing cover? If not no reason to even open oil pump. Leave oil filter on and full of oil, it will be easy to prime if its not drained.
When I rebuilt my motor, the teeth on the pump were scored and the cover was really scored. I figured it was all original with who knows how many miles on it, so I went ahead and replaced both. The deep grooves in the timing cover where the pump runs is the reason I replaced the cover. Not sure how deep the cover grooves have to be before oil pressure drops.
Mine is oozing a little radiator fluid. I want it fixed before it does more than oooz and does not put fluid in the oil. I do not know if the cover is damaged, hopefully maybe it is just a gasket change that is all is needed if there is no other wear damage and maybe just have to do the timing belt and a water pump.
If you take the cover off to fix something save some time and replace what is inside. I had to replace the water pump on my 69 that was about 6 years old. I could not believe the problems I had getting the bolts out. I had to take the cover to a machine shop to get the broken bolts out. Luckily it wasn't expensive and he cleaned all the bolt holes. I wouldn't want to do that again. Just my thoughts. Lou
Timing gears have to "match", turn by hand very easily. They will get to know each other after run in for a while. Gears don't necessarily need to be replaced. That's when they are the best. Everything needs to be setup correctly. The shaft of the mounted gear needs to be very snug on the fit in the housing bore, otherwise you will have a sloppy gear clearance and mating. That can be a reason for cover replacement or a bushing installed to tighten the fit up. I can turn my oil pump priming tool by hand and watch the gauge needle start to move. Housing can have some light scratches, but the side and o.d. clearances have to be minimal. Oil pump covers can and should be re-surfaced to a "as good as new" condition. Turn your engine at a 45 degree angle while on engine stand, fill oil filter to the top, your engine will prime in two seconds or less! Don't toss your cover in the trash needlessly!
It is a local shop here in Cincy that has been around for ages, some old timers that run it. I have had them work on other cars of mine, they did good work. I trust them.
get a set of blueprinted gears from here: http://www.automachperf.com/descriptions.html have your shop make sure the plate is perfectly flat and parallel. Set the whole thing up according to above links. Do it right the first time.
mine just needed a cleanup of gasket faces and a new gasket with Permatex grey, had great oil pressure so didnt wanna open a can of worms, timing chain was good. Did it all myself successfully except for pain in lower back from leaning over working for ten hours. Bought a Proform cover just in case before I pulled it down , but resold it on ebay dropping a $100 Aust.. Fine now no leaks of coolant or oil. Just one thing, when I loosened the bolts securing the timing cover they werent very tight at all!...might have even got away with nipping them up!
yea I was told to cinch down the bolts on the cover also. I found they were NOT tight. I sinched them down a little but my leak however small is still there. I was afraid to cinch it down more for the fear it could make the leak worst, squishing the bad seal making it worse. I was looking at using TA Performance for all my parts. Are they a good place to use? If i don't need things, aka, they get in there and the cover is still good and just needs a new gasket can I return unused things to TA? I need to order everything so it is there if things need replaced, but hell it could be just a new WP job and new timing chain set if that has the worn old chain set up.
Will I be able to reuse my timing tab/marker thingy and the dizzy hold down with the TA TC cover if I buy one?
It the old timing cover has a removable tab then you can use it. A lot of the original covers have a tab that is part of the aluminum cover and can't be removed.
TA Performance is one of the only parts vendors left that sells performance parts for Buicks, and you'll find tons of people on this board have used (most) of their parts with great success. You may be able to get certain things cheaper but most here try and support TA if budget allows since they give back by making new parts for us. Take the brand new 350 aluminum heads for example, they are the only ones to do something like that. I myself am saving up to place a large TA order to finish the assembly of my project engine (sadly this doesn't include a set of 350 Al heads ). Not sure how returns with them work though!
X2 on TA Performance The only thing I've bought "non" TA, are pushrods, and that was because I wanted them same day, Summit Racing is 40 mins. from me. TA Performance has great knowledge of Buick parts, and there service is great
