Timing Chain, Headgasket, '80 Caprice "H"

[Nalayah]

Ok, soon I will be picking my 1980 Caprice Classic (engine style is "H", V8 5.0L with a 4 barrel carb). I originally took it in many moons ago (yea, I'm slow at getting stuff done) after it just suddenly stopped starting (drove to the bank, got back in and turned the key...); it just turns over and over, with an occasional backfire (burst of fuel/air back out the carb). The mechanic that looked at it said that it might be the timing chain, as the rotor just goes around and stops, but he's seen similar stuff happen with camshafts.

Wouldn't this be a sprocket issue? If the timing chain were busted, I would have thought that it would just plain stop turning over, and figured that a sprocket is worn out or broken.

Also, the right side (driver's side, or left when sitting in the car) is spitting oil out. When I did the plugs back in April, one of them was covered in oil. Would this just be a headgasket? How hard would it be to replace it?

Thanks!

[silicon212]

Oil - not a head gasket, but a valve cover gasket.

The suspect is the timing set - the cam sprocket was actually aluminum with nylon teeth, over the years this nylon cracks and falls off and then it's curtains for the sprocket. That's likely what happened with your engine.

[Nalayah]

Thanks! So should I order an entire gear set, or just one for the cam? Also, while I've got it off, should I replace the timing chain as well? And with the valve cover gasket, should I go for cork or rubber?

Thanks again!

[silicon212]

Replace the timing set as an entire set. Cam and crank sprockets as well as timing chain. I use "The Right Stuff" by Permatex for valve covers in lieu of gaskets.

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by Nalayah

Thanks! So should I order an entire gear set, or just one for the cam? Also, while I've got it off, should I replace the timing chain as well? And with the valve cover gasket, should I go for cork or rubber?

Thanks again!

Once you're in there it's best to replace the whole thing, both gears and the chain. Why replace one thing only to have to go back 10,000 miles later to replace something else? They wear as a set and should be replaced as a set. Besides usually purchasing a set is more economical in pricing versus piecemeal. Sets for that car can start around $12 to $15 on up to over $200. I like to use a cork/rubber combo valve cover gaskets. Sometimes they are hard to find, but they should still be produced for that year of car.

[Nalayah]

Ok, should I get something like this set, or will there be more parts needed, like in this one?

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by Nalayah

Ok, should I get something like this set, or will there be more parts needed, like in this one?

The second one you link to is definite overkill. The first one is one that I actually have in my car. The exact one. Mine now has 287,000 miles on it since new in '93 and it's been great.

[Nalayah]

Thanks, you just made my day . I was afraid of having to splurge out for the second set.

Thanks!

EDIT: While we're at it, I have one more question. How hard is it to replace the speedometer cable? I can get one for just $10, and my original one broke after about a week of fluctuations.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by Nalayah

Thanks, you just made my day . I was afraid of having to splurge out for the second set.

Thanks!

EDIT: While we're at it, I have one more question. How hard is it to replace the speedometer cable? I can get one for just $10, and my original one broke after about a week of fluctuations.

It's not too difficult, but it is somewhat involved and you'd do good to study up on it a little. You have to remove the instrument cluster from the dashboard in order to get to the cable in the back of the speedo head - at that point, you depress a tab and the cable sheath pulls out the back. The cable is contained within the sheath, once you pull the sheath from the back of the speedo head, you simply pull the cable out through the top. Make sure you use an old towel and don't let the cable touch any upholstery, lest you wind up with a permanent stain. If the cable broke inside the speedometer head (it's plastic there), you can pull the broken piece out with an pick awl or similar. If the transmission gear broke, then you're getting underneath the car to get to that (the other end of the speedo cable sheath screws onto the gear housing, which can be removed).

When you put the thing back together, LIGHTLY grease the cable with white lithium grease.

[Nalayah]

Thanks again . If the gear on the tranny is stripped out, what part name would I look for for the replacement?

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by Nalayah

Thanks again . If the gear on the tranny is stripped out, what part name would I look for for the replacement?

Just a speedo driven gear. They're color coded - make sure you get the same color as what you now have, so the speedometer retains its calibration.

[Nalayah]

Ok, thanks again .

Would you happen to know everything I'll have to remove to get to the timing gears? I know the front end and radiator, but is there anything else?