Well my Lincoln had been leaking coolant from behind the timing cover for a while... Fixed it with some Bars leaks 5 months ago and then it started leaking again :banghead: ...Funny she must have known I bought the gasket kit the week before   Anyway the timing cover had never been cracked in 23 years so it was a P.I.T.A !!!!! to try and remove... The 4 studs did not really want to come out :banghead:  :banghead: :banghead:  :banghead:  and 1 bolt sheared off at the head wich in theory should have been ok and it should have just been able to slide out over the studs and bolts... Tried every conventional method to remove said bolt and studs to no avail  

Tried heating with a torch... nope still wouldn't budge... it was like this stupid timing cover was welded on the motor. So when all options were exhausted and the new to me timing cover will be 40.00... Let's break out the hammer!!!         Got just a little dirty doing this job...  

More pics to come when I get the new cover and oil pump!!

Funny how time will literally weld a part on the vehicle for you. 

Yes, it did just that!! Busting it off was going to be a last resort and unfortunately was what had to be done

Not too much you can't fix with a hammer or a BFH.

 

Even if the hammer does fail, it'll make you feel better beating on it!!!!

I even borrowed my friends husband so the job could go quicker a few days before...He broke off one bolt holding the oil pump on and I had hacksawed 2 of the studs, because in theory had all gone somewhat ok... It should have been able to slip off of said studs...I sent the picture to him telling him not to worry about the bolt he broke off at the oil pump...

Called my friend at the bone yard and now just waiting for him to find the cover... It is a 3.8 so it shouldn't be hard.. I know where there is one at another boneyard but, for the price I will let them pull it!!!! And just go pick it up!!

Now looking back at this I wondered if a dead blow hammer would of freed it without breaking the cover?

Now looking back at this I wondered if a dead blow hammer would of freed it without breaking the cover?

Tried using a rubber mallet, tried heating with a torch, took off the pan and put a pry bar behind the cover and couldn't even crack it enough to see any daylight, tried a hammer and chisel etc    .... spent 3 days trying to coax it, plead with it and beg it off  before having to resort to smashing it and using a saws all... Trust me it was an absolute last resort... I could have pulled the motor and installed another one in less time then it took to try and get that %$#@$ Cover off :banghead:  :banghead: :banghead:  :banghead:  :banghead:  :banghead:  

I have a nice selection of BFH's in my shop. They all come in handy every so often.