Finally I was brave enough to do the timing belt on my '87 745T. Now I'm stumped since I can't get the crank shaft timing belt gear off to install a new oil seal. There is a thin metal plate on the back side of the gear that prevents me from getting a puller on the gear. How the heck do you get the %#@* gear off? I have PB Blasted it for the past four hours maybe that will help when I try again Friday.

I read all of the FAQs and even printed them for reference while I was working. One of the suggestions was to use a gear puller for the crank shaft gear but that thin metal washer won't let me get a puller on it. Thoughts and suggestions will be very welcomed!

On a seperate note, this has been a real adventure. Starting with the removal of the harmonic balancer. That wouldn't come off either without using a puller. First the outer part where the belts run came off without the rest of it. Luckly, I have a new harmonic balancer and was planning to replace it anyway. Next, when I tried to fish the cam seal out, it litterally crumbled. I can't believe it wasn't pouring oil. Now the new seal doesn't want to press in. I'm using a socket that just fits over the cam shaft with the bolt that holds the gear on to the cam shaft to try and press it in. Again, amy thoughts would be appreciated. One way or another I do intend to do all three seals and replace the tensioner pully.

Trying to locate TDC was an adventure also. Who ever put the last timing belt on didn't use the lines on the belt or it has slipped. None of the other marks on the belts matched either. Cam timing was three teeth off when the crank was at O degrees and the car ran great. Suprisingly, the belt didn't shown any real signs of wear. FYI is was a Volvo timing belt. Since I couldn't get my finger in the #1 spark plug hole as Don suggest in the FAQ's I hooked up my compression gauge and used that to confirm I was at TDC on #1. On the new TRW belt it has double lines at one of the three places marked on the belt. I'm guessing the double lines should be located at the crank shaft timing mark. Is that correct?

My apologies for the long post but this has been a real frustrating experience and I'm beat for now.