Timing chain cover not co-operating

[txstang347]

OK, so I've had a run of bad luck with the stang. This started off as a water pump replacement and the timing/water pump stud bolt broke off inside the timing cover. Bolt extractors did not work so I had to pull the timing cover out.

Long story short I got the bolt out and bought:
New Ford Double roller timing chain set
New Ford Harmonic balancer
New water pump/hoses/tstat, etc

The problem:
The timing chain cover will not seat. I does not seem to want to line up with the "dowel" pins from the block. I've put all my weight on it to try and get it low enough to seat and went as far as loosening 2 oil pan bolts to try and make some extra room. No dice. The rest of the oil pan bolts look pretty hard to get to.

Am I missing something here? Is there any tips/tricks to getting this timing cover back on?

Thanks in advance!

 

[wht87gt]

Your gonna have to loosen almost all of the oil pan bolts so it can hang down low enough to get that timing cover on. Some of the oil pan bolts can be a pain to get to but it's only way your going to get everything lined up.

 

[txstang347]

Yup, just got that bitch back in. Thanks for the reply wht87gt. Now for some pre season football, then back at it later.

 

[v8only]

i've been able to snap it on without loosening any oil pan bolts. it's a bitch, but can be done, and it didn't leak either

 

[GDTrumbo]

i've been able to snap it on without loosening any oil pan bolts. it's a bitch, but can be done, and it didn't leak either

Your damn lucky it doesn't leak. You must be livin' right.

GT

 

[87AODGT]

yeah I never had to loosen the oil pan bolts any of the 3 times I've done a cam on a 302. guess I got lucky