Timming Cover Removal
 

OK, I'm replacing the water pump on my '86 560 SL and as you've read in my previous thread, I broke off two bolts. The bolts are broken inside the Timming Cover so there's no stud stuicking out to grab with Vise Grips. I'm going to have to use some other method of removing those screws. I really don't think one of those "Broken Bolt Extractors" will work, because it's almost as if the bolts were welded into the engine. I'd probably break the extractor. What I'd like to know is:
How difficult is it to remove the Timming Chain Cover? I've already got the water pump off, harmonic balancer/pully removed, radiator, and condenser taken off. Do I now just remove the alternator and power steering pump, or is there more to it?
Also, are the waterpump bolts screwed in to the Timming Chain cover itself or do they merely go through the cover and screw into the block?
Thanks in advance!
'86 560SL
'89 420SEL
'98 Sortster

The bolts that broke are the ones that holds the water pump? Anyway, as I see it you have two options; use a bolt extractor or drill the bolts out and helicoil them.

That's correct. It was two of the water pump bolts. The ones at 6:00 and the one at approx. 7:00.

The bad news is that it is almost impossible to remove the timing cover without pulling the engine. Sorry. The drive chain for the oil pump is on the outside of the inner wall of the timing cover so you have to pull the sump and then undo the oil pump and remove its drive chain from below before you can remove the timing cover.

I believe someone has done it with the engine lifted in the body of the car but when I tried I ended up pulling the engine. Most of the bolts go into the block so unless you can weld a thin bolt to the remaining stud to get it out you will have to get the timing cover off!

good luck
Len

The good news is that it's not like the engine is really that hard to pull. Esspecially since I can assume the radiator is out. The job then becomes a liesurly job and you can do so much more like clean and touch up the engine bay reaseal the engine. etc.

John Roncallo