I'm working on a 350 small block chevy that's currently already installed in the car. I hate to ask here, because it's for a Corvette, but no one on the Corvette Forums actually works on their cars, and I don't want all the responses to be... "I know a good shop in Florida you can go to," or... "have you changed your fuel filter yet, it's really difficult."
My daughter is digging into an 84 Corvette and we want to change out the timing gears and timing chain. There's nothing wrong with the motor, but since I'll be changing the gasket I figured... why not. The cam gear easily unbolts, not an issue, but the crank gear appears to be pressed on. Is there an easy way to remove and re-install the crank gear? It doesn't appear as though I can simply re-use it since the chain I ordered is matched to the gears I got.
The concern I have is damaging the thrust washer, or something else while trying to remove the crank gear. If you guys (opinions) think it's probably just best that I buy a new cam gear (they're sacrificial) and a new chain that matches the original, and leave the old crank gear on... I'll do that... looking for opinions.
Enough room to get a small gear puller on it? Perhaps need to remove the rad?
I can definitely get a gear puller on it. I was thinking the hardest part would be to re-install it. I've never removed an SBC gear, so I'm not sure if it needs to be pressed on. I know the one on the Iron Duke though is pressed on (it also has a key). I tried to do the one on the cam for the Iron Duke, and I ended up having to take it to the machine shop. The motor has 52k miles on it... and I know that if I pull the motor, I might as well rebuild the whole damned thing, and I'm trying to not obsess and just do what needs to be done as a target of opportunity.
But yeah, definitely room to get a puller on it... but my fear is putting the new one back on.
If you use the proper plastic mallet there will be no damage except to the mallet maybe. It should go on fairly easily. The gear slides on the anti-seize quite nicely
If you use the proper plastic mallet there will be no damage except to the mallet maybe. It should go on fairly easily. The gear slides on the anti-seize quite nicely
If you are afraid of "tapping" it in, you could use a large socket or pipe that fits over the crank hub, then use some washers and a long bolt (or threaded rod and nut) to "press" the gear back in.
I used the threaded rod and large socket method to press the gear on my LT-1 because I did not feel comfortable hammering the gear.
I tell you what I do on my 60* V6 and SBC V8 engines to remove and install install the gear sprocket back on the crank. To remove just go to Advance Autoparts and borrow a crank gear puller, they have them there to lend. To install the sprocket if you just tap it will not go in, you'll have to hammer it. If you tap it and it goes in is not good. Just take the sprocket put in a metal pot with water and put it to boil. Once the water has boiled for 10 minutes grab the sprocket with channel locks and slide it on the crank; yes it will slidel Let it cool and it will be super tight. No taping or hammering, no tool to put it back needeed.
[This message has been edited by La fiera (edited 12-07-2025).]
Hi Todd, did you ever get your timing chain kit installed on your Vette?
Well, I'm wanting my daughter to do it... so we're basically at the point where we're looking at it. Haha...
She removed the pulley and harmonic balancer, and then also the timing cover.
I looked at the crank gear, and there's nothing that specifically shows how far to push it in, for example... so what I ended up doing is buying a replacement chain from Cloyes, as well as a new cam gear from Cloyes, that both are compatible with the stock crank gear. I decided it's not worth the potential for it to be misaligned, and the engine only has like 52k miles on it... so there's no real concern. The cam gears are the ones that seem to always be "sacrificial" in these engines, so we'll just swap out the cam gear and chain. But I'll have my daughter do it.
Use a two arm puller to remove the existing gear. Drop the new gear into an old deep fryer with fresh engine oil heated up to 400 degrees. Allow to get to temp, then pluck the gear out and quickly slide onto the crank nose. No BS - did this on my '79 Camaro's SB 350 once-upon-a-time.
[This message has been edited by DaveB1701 (edited 12-09-2025).]
Correct Raydar, I learned this trick from a tech article in a magazine back in the early 90's...the hot oil evenly expands the steel gear just to the point of past the 'interference fit', then as it cools it clamps down on the crankshaft. Install with a full 'push', and perhaps a couple of taps with a brass drift while still hot - WEAR GLOVES!!!
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Originally posted by Raydar:
I think it gets pushed on until it bottoms out.
[This message has been edited by DaveB1701 (edited 12-10-2025).]
