Archived tappet cover oil leak, need some P7100 puller advice etc. 1996 2wd.

[royalfh]

I have just spent 8 hours cleaning engine and trying to stop tappet cover leak, it appears that the gasket has cracked and has just started gushing oil. I see that I am going to have to bite the bullet and pull the p7100 pump and virtually all the rest of the drivers side engine accessories. I have not pulled the pump before and I am a bit intimidated by the project. I have searched the forums but need some advice;

1/ Where to buy puller for pump gear. ( I hope I do not have to remove timing gear cover, KDP done 2 years ago).

2/ Is there a key on the pump gear? some posts I read indicate that the gear is on a taper, I do not want to loose the key in the gear case.

3/ Do I need barring tool to hold engine whilst re-torquing pump gear bolt?

4/ If I pin engine at TDC and pin pump timing, do I have to invest in timing kit or could I get timing re-set just by marking components.

5/ any other advice?



Thanks,

Nigel. 1996 2500 2wd. Auto trans. 400K ml. Riverside CA.

 

[Cosmo]

I don't recall there being a key, as I believe you have to be able to turn the gear on the shaft to set your injection timing. You should be able to pull the oil fill neck, then pop the gear off. As far as the injection timing goes, make sure neither the engine or pump gets turned and it should go back together pretty darned close to where it was.

The barring tool might be a waste of money, I've got one that was given to me, and I did use it while replacing valve springs, but I believe I just used the locking pin down by the vacuum pump/ps pump to keep the engine from turning while retorquing the pump.

 

[GAmes]

I have just spent 8 hours cleaning engine and trying to stop tappet cover leak, it appears that the gasket has cracked and has just started gushing oil. I see that I am going to have to bite the bullet and pull the p7100 pump and virtually all the rest of the drivers side engine accessories. I have not pulled the pump before and I am a bit intimidated by the project. I have searched the forums but need some advice;

1/ Where to buy puller for pump gear. ( I hope I do not have to remove timing gear cover, KDP done 2 years ago).



Here are the complete timing instructions, with illustrations, that outline the tools you need. http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1994/18-10-94a.htm



2/ Is there a key on the pump gear? some posts I read indicate that the gear is on a taper, I do not want to loose the key in the gear case.



No



3/ Do I need barring tool to hold engine whilst re-torquing pump gear bolt?



With an automatic, especially, yes. The pump shaft nut (not a bolt) tq is 144 lb/ft, without the barring tool that will spin the engine



4/ If I pin engine at TDC and pin pump timing, do I have to invest in timing kit or could I get timing re-set just by marking components.



In theory you could pin time the cam and pin time the p=pump, tq the nut and have stock timing. Since the cam timing pin housing is adjustable you have to ask your self "how accurate is it?" As soon as you pop the gear off the pump your timing will be off. The shaft "jumps" when the gear pops off. Since a minute movement of the shaft results in quite a bit of timing change, marking the componants accurately would be difficult.



5/ any other advice?



Try to find a member in your area that has the tools who might give you some help.

Plan on at least two days to do the job. Get a good factory service manual, not a cheap Chiltons or Haynes. Take your time. The p-pump weighs about 40 lbs, that doesn't sound like much until you are trying to lift it out while manuevering it around wire bundles. It also holds about a qt of oil, don't tip it forward. Be sure to remove the oil fill cap (access to the starwheel) and fill it with oil before you start the engine back up. It is a slow process to get the oil in.