I'm putting my 318 back together after freshening it some. I installed the cam and timing set today.

The Haynes manual lists the timing cover as something that should be reinstalled before putting the engine back in, but I'm thinking that it should maybe be after it's in, as many of the bolts from both it and the water pump are used also to hang various brackets. Haynes says to apply RTV to the gaskets, so I'd think you'd have to be ready to put all those bolts in for good?

Also, the timing and water pump bolts are the only ones that I forgot to make note of where each on goes. Can anyone help with that?

Any help appreciated!

Go ahead and install the timing cover AND the water pump before stuffing the engine back in.You'll just have to play with the bolts to get the right lengths in the right holes,some are fairly obvious and if you get a wrong one in just try another.Try a dry fit to figure it out before installing gaskets and RTV,any that will need removing to install a bracket later on should be ok as the RTV(which will have set up)and other bolts will hold everything together without disturbing the seal.Good luck

And if you had the pan off it makes it easier to get a good seal with the pan gasket also sealing the bottom of the timing cover.

Yes, looking at it after I posted this afternoon, I definitely want to do it all out, to get the best seal between the timing cover and pan gasket. Thanks for the help, SixShot!

I have had my timing cover off twice. The first time I wish I had more attention to which bolt went where, and the order which the brackets/ accessories must go back on. I did several dry runs before feeling confident enough to use the RTV and committ.

The second time I pulled each bolt from a piece of cardboard with a general sketch of the bolt hole pattern but still did not write down the order of removal and wound op doing a dry run or 2 as well, and using gasket glue to hold the gasket to the cover, because I messed that up the first time.

The bolt holes which penetrate the water jacket, smear the threads with RTV, and let it cure somewhat before refilling the block with coolant. These are common sources of coolant leak In my experience.

I also have 2 bolts which keep loosening up and start leaking slightly, and need to bust out a 9/16 open ended wrench every 3 weeks or so. One time I smeared the outside of the bolt heads with threadlocker red, and got 2 months before retorque was required.

You're not reusing the water pump are you?

Man, you need a garage or a shop to assemble the engine. CFleanliness is next to godliness. Small blocks are really forgiving just keep it clean. You need to get the Mopar engine assembly guide /or the engine book. There are step by step instructions to assemble a small block mopar engine. Good luck

Almost all re-assembled. No problem doing it outside, with extra care. Probably used too much care, in that it's taken me a good bit of time to do, but I'm just like that. Just should have made a pattern for the timing cover bolts, like I did for everything after that, but I was in a hurry to see just how stretched my timing chain was, and forgot. Those things happen.

Thanks for the reply, wrcsixeight!

No, new water pump and timing set. Also, new main and rod bearings, rings, camshaft, cam bearings, lifters, oil pump, freeze plugs, gaskets.

or if there are any wrecking yards around go there and pull out the bolts and write down or remember what goes where. take a little time to do but it might help