Timing Cover Dowel Pins

[gilbedw]

360 Timing cover. The TSM sez to remove the lower dowel pin to facilitate the installation of the cover. Mine is pretty frozen in. I fear I will damage it taking it out.
Does anyone have a removal trick to share? Replacements appear to be discontinued. I am pretty sure I can source one off the internet if I don't damage it to the point I can't measure it. Dimensions or a source would be appreciated.
Thanks

[mattv]

there should be two dowels (each side)
I removed both, and don't miss them at all, for reassembly

[letank]

during the previous millenium, I had to remove one dowel... it was tough, I used some vise-grip, deformed the dowel... and never reused it... one is enough... a few years back on another wagy... 2 dowels made it hard to reinstall the timing cover... so I dumped one dowel... and gave it away a few years back.

[gilbedw]

It seems like it would be important to retain them. I assume they are used to align the cover to the block. Something that the bolts with all their clearance cannot do. Two areas that come to mind that concern me. The centering of the front seal on the crank, and distributor gear alignment with the cam gear.
I sure would like to retain them.

[mattv]

If you’ve got the oil pan off you should be able to use both
Otherwise, they’re a conflict
But, I agree, they seem critical for alignment
I monkeyed with it for days before I ditched the dowels
Now it werks