Front Timing Cover Question

[turbovair]

Getting ready to do timing chain/cooling mods to my 96. Is it possible to remove front cover without unbolting/dropping oil pan? Manual says dropping pan MAY be required on "some" models. I'm thinking if I extract balancer seal first, I may have clearance to remove cover. Then, after cover re-installed, drive new front seal back in.Would appreciate comments from anyone familiar with this task. Thanx.

[Barry Nave]

No pan drop.I Have Installed gear drive.Gear drive now has over 70K

[Johnny B.]

I did the cooling mods and replaced the timing chain and gears on my 93 a few months back. I had to remove 6 bolts ? that bolt the timing cover to the oil pan, no pan drop

[turbovair]

Will the timing cover come off/install with the front balancer seal installed, or does it have to be removed first?

[triggerman]

The harmonic balancer comes off befor the cover with seal intact in the cover. Once you have the cover off, you swap out the seal.