An internal combustion engine includes a crankshaft rotatable about a crankshaft axis; a camshaft rotatable by the crankshaft about a camshaft axis; an engine cover defining an engine cover volume within the internal combustion engine; a drive member disposed within the engine cover volume which transfers rotational motion from the crankshaft to the camshaft; a camshaft phaser disposed within the engine cover volume which controllably varies the phase relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft; an actuator which operates the camshaft phaser; and an actuator mount within the engine cover volume which mounts the actuator structurally independent of the engine cover, thereby allowing removal of the engine cover independently of the actuator.