hey all, I've gotta take timing chain cover off. engine is still in car, will i have to drop the oil out of the sump and take sump off cause of the possible contamination with water due to removal of timing chain cover? I've drained water out of cooling system.
I hoping to just take timing chain cover off and not remove sump.
if i have to remove sump do I have to take engine out or at least lift it ?
this is all because of a stuck water pump bolt, looking at engine it furthest left top. went to change thermo bypass hose and everything has disintegrated from that, so had to change water pump. sure no problem. every bolt was coming out fine then got to last one, "SNAP" of comes the head. oh s**t and its kinda been oh s**t ever since that moment.

I would drop the oil anyway.
You can do it in car. Degrease the whole engine before you start and undo all of the sump bolts but only loosen the rear two out but not all the way out. Remove the others. Pry the the front of the sump down and hopefully dig the gasket out of the timing cover.
After you've done the deed with the timing cover use plenty of brake cleaner on all the gasket surfaces, this way you'll have a hope of it not leaking oil. Load it up with Silicone around the timing cover area and close it back up. Did it on my XH about a year ago...still no leaks
Btw it's a good time to put a new balancer on it while it's apart.

cheers mate

That dreaded bolt has got me too. If there is anywhere to grip it, small stillsons and heat the area of the timing cover and that should release it.

Good luck. I did everything but in the end had to cut the timing cover off the engine.

Or if you cant be stuffed removing all the the sump bolts,get the timing cover off,cut the ends off the stock ford sump gasket and replace the chopped off ends with the end parts of a cheap cork gasket set and use the new rubber half moon and heaps of silicone,ive done it on my eb once before and worked leak free for years until I rebuilt my motor.
Just another option.