I am disassembling the motor on the '73, it's a 2.0.

I have everything off the block except for the crankshaft timing sprocket, which is stuck to the crankshaft! I tried using heat, rust penetrator (PB Blaster, and prying on it carefully from the back with a flat blade screwdriver. I even bought two 3/8" grade 8 bolts, ground the heads down half way and the shaft at the head end half way in to get  behind the sprocket, then using a bolt puller to pull it off, but the bolt heads broke!

The last things I can think of to do is to drill and tap two holes in the face of the sprocket and use the bolt puller to pull the sprocket off the shaft, or to split it off the shaft and destroying i, but I really don't want to for the following reason..


Will drilling and taping two holes in the face of the sprocket affect the balance of anything? If I have to split it, will a 2.3L sprocket fit or are they different? I have a spare 2.3L sprocket, but not a 2.0L one.

I'm with RSM, you may need more heat. Also try cleaning/dousing with brake clean first then airing. Old oil and heat make a sticky varnish. The crank will come out of the block with the cover still on if needed. Seems like I drove a gear off with a bent punch behind the seal one time. Good luck and let us Know what works! JT