Replacing the water pump: remove cam gears??

[EdNerd]

Inspecting a bit more (after a good night's sleep -- best tool in the box!!), it looks like there's three bolts holding that inner cover on.

The easy one at the bottom:


One behind the left cam gear:


And one behind the right cam gear:


(Edit: found another one on the lower right)


The left bolt is the booger - you can only reach it by rotating the cam gear so one of the holes lines up with the bolt so you can get a socket on it. Or you *might* be able to get a crow's foot on it. If I rotate the gear around, I'll have to remark the timing belt - not a big deal; just wish I'd seen this coming first.

But then there's still the question of the cover slipping out from under the cam gears, as your picture suggests? Or do the gears still have to come off??

Which is more hassle?
Taking off the inner cover?
Or bending the cover to remove the pump?

Ed