The first shop I took the car to just backed out of replacing it. They quoted me at $790 for the work but then realized its going to take much longer than they anticipated. Anyone want to come to Florida and help me do this? I will pay you.

What's their new quote? The service manual procedure looks like an all day job with special tools so paying for the job done right would be my choice despite the expense.

Anyone know if it is possible to put a new chain in there from the top by connecting the new chain to the old and turning the engine until the new one comes around? Fraught with cautions regarding chain tension during the procedure so nothing slips but then you just have to pull the chain cover like you're considering now. Or maybe I dreamed this? :) Worth investigating. And a Billman TCT.

-- Chuck

How the F*** do I take the crank pulley off???? My 650lb impact wrench is not breaking it loose.

Oh man! Sorry, to hear you need to replace your timing chain. I always thought a Honda engine didn't need this, until the bitter end of its life. I remember changing timing chains, on my old BMW 2002Ti and 1602. There was a trick to tying the chain to the timing gears. Popping a link, then feeding a Mercedes 2-liter chain into the open link old BMW chain. Free up the wires holding the pulleys, then rotate the crank around the engine. Being sure not to skip a cog. Then, putting a master link onto the chain. Still had to pull the radiator and front cover to access the chain, guides, and tensioner. Had to use a Mercedes timing chain, as the BMW ones did not have a master link. 2-liter ones (I forget the specific model) were same length.

Guess you need to pull all the air cleaner accessories to gain good access to the chain cover. Maybe a good idea to lift the front end of the car, so the job won't be so back breaking. Just a thought.

Good luck!

It's infamous for needing crazy amounts of torque to get loose :)
Try using a heat gun to get the bolt and pulley nice and hot, then use lots of freezing spray or compressed air upside down right on the bolt.
This will significantly decrease the torque needed to break it loose, 650lb might not be enough though.

With the method I described above I got my pulley loose with a ~3ft 1/2" breaker bar just pulling with arm strength :)

Luckily Autozone had a HCPH that I could rent and was able to get it off.

What kind of silicone should I use to create the timing cover gasket?

How do I remove the three bolts connecting the a/c compressor to the oil pan? Should I remove the two bolts attaching it to the oil pan mount?