Lock the car in gear, e-brake on, until you have the bolt loosened, but before removing it.

Then you need to keep the clutch fully depressed until finish... and gawd help you if your clutch leaks down.

 

Ok so if i take the front cover off and put a new gasket on will that mess up my timing?


Btw, i only have basic hand tools, no engine hoist, empact gun, timing light, or anything like that.

 

Make sure you set the e-shaft to TDC before removing the pulley, and don't move it. Then be careful to line up the dizzy index marks when you reinstall it, and tightenthe clamp nut without moving anything. You'll be fine.

 

If you pull the pulley off in one piece (just by the 19mm bolt, not the 4 10mm bolts that hold the pulleys together) it shouldnt matter. The pulley is keyed.

But if you dont have a timing light, you should go get one lol

 

I have a leak in the same area, the oil even finds its way over the "12a" lettering on the top part of the housings after a drive. I cleaned the engine with purple power and saw it trickling down the exact spot you pictured. After reading all the comments i'm starting to think I might get in over my head. "Timing lights, depress clutch, or even pull motor?!" I'm screwed

 

One of the reasons I gave up and stopped signing on to this forum is that most everyone fail to look in the archive or make an effort to learn how to search! I've been on countless other car forums and hardly ever see this redundant posting.

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/engine-removal-front-engine-cover-while-still-car-644395/