Front Crank Oil Seal - Not Sealing

MidOHasp · #1 (**permalink**) 05-04-2004, 03:56 PM

So during assembly, emphasis on the first 3 letters, I noticed that the balancer did not fit 100% square in the oil seal. It didn't look like there was a blatant gap or I probably wouldn't have tried to sweep it under the rug, but I knew it wasn't perfect.

Now it's spraying oil (not at an alarming rate...maybe a well distributed teaspoon or two over the course of a hard 100 mile cruise... but anything to me is a bit alarming and annoying.

There are about 10 bolts it seems holding that timing cover on the front of the block, so my question is - if the little bugger doesn't line up properly over the crank centerline, how do you fix that?

Front end of the motor's coming off soon due to a bolt being sheared off, figure that's a good time to fix it.

But how? So I throw my cover away and get a new one...and it's left of center instead of a tad too high. Surely this problem has been encountered and handled by one of you guys.

Help?

Thanks,
JP

Mr.Fixit · #2 (**permalink**) 05-04-2004, 04:07 PM

You don't tighten down the timing chain cover until the balancer is installed. There is some wiggle room.

MidOHasp · #3 (**permalink**) 05-04-2004, 04:23 PM

No $h!t.

So, would I be correct in saying that while I have the water pump off and at the machine shop, I could loosen all of the timing cover bolts up, pull the damper (I think there's an outside chance one of the lips of the seal folded over, may as well be sure), then get the damper back up to the seal, knock the cover into the right location, fit the damper back into its happy home, resnug cover, wash, rinse, no repeat?

Mr. Fixit, even though you are in so. cal, some day I must meet you, shake your hand, buy you a beer (or a dr. pepper, whichever you prefer) and say thank you...on behalf of all of us. Especially the dumb ones (like me).

Actually I just realized there is a gasket in there, so maybe pulling the cover all the way off while I'm there isn't such a terrible idea?........

Lowell W · #4 (**permalink**) 05-04-2004, 05:34 PM

JP,

While I was at SSR (BTW: Were you there? I was looking forrward to meeting you but don't believe I ever did-or did I?), I went back to visit with Eric at Performance Engineering. He was working on a car there with a problem similar to yours and mentioned moving the cover around after securing the damper; also that some motors/covers have locating pins which limits the amount of wiggle room (?). Either way, the procedure seems to be similar to to that outlined by Mr. Fixit.

Why's the water pump at the machine shop? What bolt is sheared off? Is this a job for Captain Easy-out?

Lowell

MidOHasp · #5 (**permalink**) 05-04-2004, 07:25 PM

Lowell,

I was planning on being at SSR but weather (yeah I know, real sissy) and a few other things kept me. I was disappointed because I'm sure I missed a heluva good time.

Anyhow, the water pump is at the machine shop because I BROKE OFF the easy out in the bolt that was already sheared. It's IN THERE!!

Long story short, I custom fabricated a surge tank assembly that uses the high-mount alternator bracket from March *and* the passenger radiator inlet. Creative convoluted stainless radiator hose and some custom fab brass bracketing, and it looked pretty neat. Definitely one-off.

Anyhow, the bolt selection for holding the Surge Tank bracket into the water pump was picked for aesthetics, not strength - didn't assume there'd be enough stress to really shear a bolt...even if it wasn't Grade 8.

Well, the bolt was either slightly long or cross threaded and upon "entry" it was weakened. The vibrations of that 408 broke the bolt clean off on a regular drive.

I tried the easy-out and broke it off in the bolt. Hence "Captain Easy-Out". Captain in a bad way.

Moral of the story, just because four 5/16" bolts can hold a motor in place, it doesn't mean one of them can hold a 1 pound surge tank in place. Especially not if the bolt's integrity was compromised.

Lowell, are you going to be at DVSF?? What color is your SPF? I will find you!!

JP

Mr.Fixit · #6 (**permalink**) 05-05-2004, 08:12 AM

If you have (or can borrow) a dampner puller, by all means: remove the dampner, remove the timing cover, replace the front crank seal, then put it all back together with a new timing cover gasket, this time leaving the timing cover loose until the dampner's snout is through the front seal before tightening the cover down. Inspect dampner snout for a groove before reinstall, and smear some oil on it's outside s it slides nicely into the front seal.

Lowell W · #7 (**permalink**) 05-05-2004, 08:17 AM

Uh oh...Looks like you're going to have to be MR. Easy out!

Yeah, you did miss a good time, but there'll be others. Friday nite at the drag strip was fun and Saturday the weather was beautiful, with lots of fun all day. My car and I are both dry now.

Yep, I'm planning on Da Fling. Got my own Cobra, got time off, got my room reserved; I'm a lucky dog! Mine will be the green car with the Wimbledon white stripe and the two roll bars.

Looking forward to visiting with ya!

Lowell

MidOHasp · #8 (**permalink**) 05-05-2004, 04:57 PM

Mr. Fixit....

You say inspect for a groove...do you mean at the same point the crank seal is... i.e. to see if being off-center, it wore a groove in the damper?

Thanks

Mr.Fixit · #9 (**permalink**) 05-06-2004, 07:55 AM