This thing is a bitch to get off. One thing I am having one hell of a time with is the Crankshaft accessory pulley.

Question: What are the consequences and reprocutions of leaving the covor off when i put the thing back together? It will be so much easier changing the timing belt if that wasn't on there.

Also anyone have any pointers in getting that crankshaft pulley off? If i heat the metal pulley up with a brasing toarch will this hurt anything internally?
I have a puller but all i am doing is ruining the metal on the puller, i suppose it is too soft.

To get the pulley off, you need a 3 claw 5 ton puller. It's the only thing that works.

I know people that have cut the timing belt cover to expose the camgears. But I'd think that exposing too much would let dust and dirt onto the timing belt and that would be bad news.

Thanks for the info.

yep, get the 3 jaw, 5 ton puller. Back out the stock crank bolt about a 1/4" at a time. Put the puller on EVENLY and straight, and either use an impact wrench or a socket wrench. YOu want the pulley to slide off in very small increments, as not to damgae the puller or the crank bolt/threads. Heating the center hub of the pulley may help a bit,using a propane torch. Once you get about 3 times of doing the 1/4" thing, put in a 1 inch LONGER crank bolt. You NEED to do this as not to damage the crank threads. Once you get that in, just keep repeating the pulling process, backing the bolt out 1/4" at time, as the pulley comes off. Impact wrenches really help here, but always go slow regardless, and never just hammer down on the puller, as it will either break or bend it up..

I left both the back and front timing belt cover off of my engine. No probs what so ever with it like that. I have even power washed it several times now. Its there mostly for protection of your hands and whatnot from getting in there and mangled. It does keep dust and dirt off of it, but I keep my engine clean, so I dont really worry about it. The belt wont fly off or anything..

Hey Dan do you need a hand, since I'm only like 10 minutes away