[gmack221]

Taking the mounting plate off, don't heat the bolts, heat makes them expand and it will not help you get them out, for heat to help you'd have to heat what they screw into. Try putting the box end of a wrench on it, then put a pipe over the other end (or box end of another wrench) to get leverage.

Yes that plate has to come off, no other options, you have to get to the timing chain cover under that plate. If you have to tap the wrench with a hammer to get the bolt broke loose.

As for the cam, keep all three pieces together when you take it off (it will be alot easier). When I say 3 pieces im refering to the cam cover, cam, & cam housing. All 3 pieces are held on to the head by 10 or 12 bolts that take a 13mm socket (8mm bolt diameter) they are long bolts that thread into the head from the top of the cam housing. the reason I say keep them all together is so you don't have to mess with putting the cam back in, & putting the lifters back in (they should stay in the cam housing).

Its a GM setting the timing on the DOHC is simple, set #1 at top dead center (seems like there's a mark on the block to line up the crank key to), then for the cams take an 8mm bolt and thread it thru the cam gear into the hole in the cam housing. (haynes manual does a great job of explaining this, go to autozone and look at a book even if you don't buy it)