front seal on 351W

wesjr · #1 (**permalink**) 03-14-2004, 03:17 PM

Not sure how it gets installed, Do I install from back or front side of Timming Chain Cover?

Rick Parker · #2 (**permalink**) 03-14-2004, 04:58 PM

The early covers required that the seal was installed from the back side. Later covers had the seal installed from the front. Is there a flat lip on the outer edge of the existing seal? Then this is the later style.

Rick

wesjr · #3 (**permalink**) 03-14-2004, 05:00 PM

well my timming cover is brand new if that helps?

my exsisting seal is leaking so we were not sure if we had right one =/

Rick Parker · #4 (**permalink**) 03-14-2004, 05:06 PM

Then it will install from the front.

Rick

trularin · #5 (**permalink**) 03-14-2004, 08:54 PM

You should check the balancer to see if a grove has been worn into it.

If yes, then you can get a kit that sleeves the balancer and will stop the leaking.

You still need to put a new seal in, but it won't be worth much if the balancer has a grove in it.

Just a thought.

wesjr · #6 (**permalink**) 03-14-2004, 08:58 PM

umm everything is new less than 500 on engine, new balancer, crate motor

Mike Simard · #7 (**permalink**) 03-15-2004, 05:08 AM

If you have a mag base test indicator, you can check the runout of the housing when you get the old seal out. I wouldn't trust the cover to be aligned to the crank, if yours wore out so soon it could be off.

trularin · #8 (**permalink**) 03-15-2004, 05:17 AM

It could just be a bad install. It's not like it couldn't happen.

Mike makes a good point, If it is not square to the crank shaft, it will leak.

Who's crate did you get it out of, Ford's or an engine builders? Does it make a diff? Yes.

Check the balancer, the housing to the crank and the seal itself. For that matter, make sure it is the seal and not a gasket in very close Proximity.

Just a thought.

MidOHasp · #9 (**permalink**) 03-15-2004, 06:42 AM

What if it isn't completely square to the crank? I did mine myself and it wasn't exactly square. It was REALLY REALLY close, though. I was definitely concerned about leakage, but after 15 dyno pulls and 700 miles in the car, there's no leaking yet.

"Next time," how do you fix it if you see it's not perfectly square?

JP

Edbo · #10 (**permalink**) 03-15-2004, 06:50 AM

I realise you did not build the motor and don't know the answer to this, but there are supposed to be two alignment dowel rings between the block and the timing cover to center the front seal on the crank snout. A new front cover (I bought one) does not come with the dowels.
The mount bolts are sloppy enough to off-center the seal on the crank without the dowels. There's a workaround for no dowels, but it requires the timing cover to be removed first. If you're interested, let me know.

Could also be as simple as..... the garter spring came off the seal.

Ed

Lowell W · #11 (**permalink**) 03-15-2004, 08:03 AM

Kinda reminds me of this little story:

This penguin takes his Cobra into the shop because it's leaking oil. While it's being fixed, he goes across the street to have a dish of ice cream. Being a penguin, he can't use a spoon, so he just kinda sticks his beak in the dish and does the best he can but he ends up making a mess with the ice cream. When he's done, he goes back across the street to check on his Cobra.

The penguin says, "So, what's going on with my car?"
The mechanic says, "Well, it looks like you blew a seal."
The penguin says, "Naw, that's just ice cream. What's the matter with my car?"

Sorry, don't know what came over me...

MidOHasp · #12 (**permalink**) 03-15-2004, 09:25 AM

You don't know what came over you? From the sounds of the story, it was the seal.

Sorry...I'm gonna get banned from CC forever and I'm not even to 100 posts yet.

Lowell W · #13 (**permalink**) 03-15-2004, 02:25 PM

I'll be right there with ya. Help me get this stuff offa me, will ya?