Timing Chain: Any tricks to avoid breaking front cover bolts?

uzzled: My 1972 LeSabre Custom convertible has circa 96,000 actual miles on it and runs fine; excellent, as a matter of fact.

I remember "back in the day" when I had several of these as used cars, the timing chains would stretch and chew off the camshaft gear's plastic-encapsulated teeth, rendering the engine DOA until repaired. I replaced several of them back then, so I'm familiar with the procedure of packing the oil pump with Vasoline so it can pull oil up upon initial start, etc.

I'm thinking I'd like to put a new chain and gears in my convertible's base 350 engine before the chain jumps.

But I remember those darned little 1/4-20 timing case cap screws nearly always breaking off due to corrosion, so I would imagine my '72 convertible would be a candidate for that after all these years.

Does anyone here have a trick to avoid breaking off those darned little cap screws where they may have seized in the aluminum timing case cover over the years? Thanks.

 

If you have any chance its with alternating gentle heating and penetrating oil. the heat will draw the oil into the threads. Unfortunately the aluminum and steel tend to gall and seize and its a challenge to get them all out without breaking any. Good luck.

 

Thanks for that tip; 'sounds good.

Fortunately, this is in a large chassis, so I've got more room to apply heat! :TU:

 

Again, thanks.

Do you guys heat the heads of the bolts or, ever so carefully, the portion of the die-cast aluminum timing case cover into which the bolts are screwed?

(Yes, 'will use new stainless-steel cap screws, of course.)

Thanks again.