Support the engine and remove that mount. 3 oil pan bolts need to come off. A few of the bolts go in to the water jacket, so will leak coolant. Yes, you can pack the oil pump to prime it. I've used assembly lube, but Vaseline works fine. Just change the oil right after. Be sure to disable the ignition and crank the engine. Then crank it again just to make sure. Failure to prime the pump and get the oil moving will result in replacing the engine in about 100 miles. I always hook up a mechanical pressure tester and use that.

Here is the problem I am facing now and need advice with. The old timing chain and gear slid off without any problem. When to install the new one and can not get it to go on. I thought maybe the alignment between the camshaft and crankshaft had moved. I checked the old gears against the new gears and it seemed the same. Just to make sure I put the old gears and chain back on, easy. Now I understand the old chain may have some stretch to it. I decided to try the new chain with the old gears and the cam gear will not slip on. It almost as if the new chain is too short even though same number of links. How hard is it suppose to be to get the new gear and chain in place? It has been maybe 9 years since I put the gear set in Mum'* 1983 LeSabre but don't recall any problem with that car.

I am hoping that those who have replaced a timing chain in a LeSabre close to mine can let me know something on this.

Do you have the tensioner off? Put the gears and chain on first, then the tensioner. It'* a bit tight, but should slide right on with a little wiggle.

Yes, I have the tensioner off. I guess I need to pull up on the chain a bit harder but I may have to see about help from someone stronger than me.

I've had to do a bit of wiggling a few times, but they all go on. It'* kind of a line it up thing. Slide it on the crank shaft with the chain and both gears lined up. Push it in until it'* near the cam. Then push both gears on straight and even. You may need to tap the gear a bit to get it going. Also, before you start, look at both chains and check the length. The old chain will be a bit longer, but shouldn't be a lot longer.

I did check the new chain with the old and they appear to be the same length; I placed them side by side and lined up the links.

I have been putting the chain on the cam gear, then looping it under the crank gear and trying to place it on the camshaft that way. I will try your suggestion of trying to have the chain on both gears and try it that way. Evidently the old chain has a lot of slack in it because it just slides on with ease.

Ya, it will be easier the way I said. You may have to do it a few times to get the dots lined up. Make sure the balance shaft dots are lined up first.

Thanks for the tip. It is a little late here to try tonight. I will try it tomorrow and know that I may need to exert a bit more force as well. Thanks for answering.

I like to leave the crank gear out from the block about 3/8" so that the chain is paralell to the block when putting the cam gear onto the cam keyway. It seems that if the chain isn't straight to the block, it doesn't like to line up easily.

I still can not get the gear in place. I am beginning to think something is not right with the new set. I tried the new chain with the old gears and could not get it to go on. Now the old chain has some play in the pins/links, it is worn. So I thought I would try the old chain on the new gears. I could not get it to go on. Now the old chain is worn so if it was just the new chain being tighter, using the old chain should allow it to go on. The old set slides on without any problem.

I am going to swap out this set with another one but it will be the same brand as Advance Auto only has one exact replacement in stock. If it does the same, I guess I will return it, lose the discount I got and try a different brand. This one is a *.A. Gear brand.