1. Disconnect the battery and drain the cooling system. Remove the water pump. Remove the power steering pump attaching bolts and move the pump aside. If so equipped. Move the air conditioning compressor aside, if equipped.
  2. Remove the vibration damper pulley. Unbolt and remove the vibration damper with a puller. On 318, 340, and 360 engines, remove the fuel lines and fuel pump, then loosen the oil pan bolts and remove the front bolt on each side.
  3. Remove the timing gear cover and the crankshaft oil slinger.
  4. On 318, 340, and 360 engines, remove the camshaft sprocket lockbolt, securing cup washer, and fuel pump eccentric. Remove the timing chain with both sprockets. On 400, 426, and 440 engines, remove the camshaft sprocket lockbolt and remove the timing chain with the camshaft and crankshaft sprockets.
  5. To begin the installation procedure, place the camshaft and crankshaft sprockets on a flat surface with the timing indicators on an imaginary centerline through both sprocket bores. Place the timing chain around both sprockets. Be sure that the timing marks are in alignment.

Alignment of timing marks—V8
CAUTION
When installing the timing chain, have an assistant support the camshaft with a screwdriver to prevent it from contacting the plug in the rear of the engine block. Remove the distributor and the oil pump/distributor drive gear. Position the screwdriver against the rear side of the cam gear and be careful not to damage the cam lobes.
  1. Turn the crankshaft and camshaft to align them with the keyway location in the crankshaft sprocket and the keyway or dowel hole in the camshaft sprocket.
  2. Lift the sprockets and timing chain while keeping the sprockets tight against the chain in the correct position. Slide both sprockets evenly onto their respective shafts.
  3. Use a straightedge to measure the alignment of the sprocket timing marks. They must be perfectly aligned.
  4. On 318, 340, and 360 engines, install the fuel pump eccentric, cup washer, and camshaft sprocket lockbolt, and torque to 35 ft. lbs. If camshaft end play exceeds 0.010 in., install a new thrust plate. It should be 0.002–0.006 in. with the new plate.

On 400 and 440 V8s, install the washer and camshaft sprocket lockbolt and then torque the lockbolt to 35 ft. lbs. through 1972, 50 ft. lbs. 1973 and later. Check to make sure that the rear face of the camshaft sprocket is flush with the camshaft end.