I'm working on an 84 nissan 720, attempting to replace a bad timing chain tensioner. I have all bolts removed from front of block, head, and oil pan. I'm not trying to break anything i don't have to, and my problem is the cover wont seem to want to come off. It could possibly be that i'm not prying enough, but at the same time i'm not sure if there are any guides/dowel pins holding the cover into the front of the head. Should I have to loosen the oil pan and head bolgts to get the cover free?

they're a b**** to get off... get some leverage and pry... but BE CAREFUL at the same time... whatever you're prying with... you don't want it to hit anything inside the engine... and you want to make sure you don't bend the cover at all

good luck

i need to do the same thing to mine....can you do it with engine in the truck or do you have to pull it???

You will need to loosen the sump so the gasket wont be damaged. With the rocker cover off fit a bolt and nut with a small socket to the top of the cover. Using appropriate spanners turn out the bolt from the nut. This should press out the top of the cover. After removing the bolt, nut and socket, pry out the cover using a wrecking bar (pig foot). The cover can be removed in the vehicle.

flinterman2000 wrote:You will need to loosen the sump so the gasket wont be damaged.

what gasket

The oil pan or sump.

hmmm... interesting

it's been awhile since I did this on my 85 z24. If I remember right, i had to remove the oil pan bolts and remake a gasket to fit. That is what my chilton's said to do lol. once the radiator and part of the grill assembly were removed the job was incredibly easier, since i could pull the front cover straight off the block and not damage anything by prying it at an angle. the replacement gasket for the front cover was cheap, and the oil pan gasket was just a matter of cutting holes in the right spot and cutting it to shape from the old gasket piece from the oil pan. Knecht's or autozone usually carry gasket material if you don't want to replace the oil pan gasket completely. Oh, and lots of silicone.lol

hopefully you already have the main driveshaft bolt etc removed