I am replacing the timing chain and cover on my 98 Blazer, 4.3 eng. I have gotten everything off ok and have replaced the chain ok. But I am having trouble getting the cover back on. The rubber oil pan gasket at the bottom is preventing the cover from going back on. Haynes says to loosen front 3 oil pan bolts on each side, which I have done, but can't break the pan loose from the block. Any suggestions on how to do this?

 

I would loosen all of the pan bolts (don't forget the ones up inside the bell housing). Your aluminum pan doesn't flex like the old stamped steel pans did. That should allow you to drop the pan down enough to get the cover in.

How did you get the cover out? Hopefully you didn't damage the pan o-ring.

 

The plastic timing cover flexed enough to come out and the o ring seems to be fine.

 

You`ll have to drop the oil pan all the way. before getting in to all that take a look at youre timing tab. Is it in the 2 o`clock position or 12? I changed a timing cover and wound up having to change balancer out too. My pointer was 12 o`clock with a 6 3/4 balancer and couldn`t get a replacement tab to fit in proper position. Had to go to larger balancer so I could have a tab.