The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop timing gear cover seal

I have a couple questions. I did use the search to find some info on this but still need some help just to be clear. First, I bought a complete set of gaskets for the car, and the box says timing cover seal. Now I have the gasket which goes around the outside, but it is a thing that looks alot like a bearing that is the exact size of the hole in the timing cover. My question is, am I supposed to pop the seal out of the cover? Or does it go behind the cover? Also. I have seen on this site how people suggest tapping the front two bottom holes to 3/8 so you don't have to access screws from inside oil pan anymore. If you do this, what about the other two little holes between these original holes. When I took the bottom two screws out, they were holding a small little metal strip that was covering two small holes between the two screw holes? Also how do you get the cover back on perfectly centered. Again, I have searched this stuff, but need it explained a little more clear. I really appreciate it.

it sounds like you're describing the new oil seal, which if so, the old one comes out and the new one replaces it

"what about the other two little holes between these original holes?" i'm not sure that i'm following this question

there's a centering tool for that, but i'm guessing that someone here knows how to do it without it

What year and size engine are you referring to?

Regarding a centering tool for the round seal in a 216/235/261 timing cover, many people suggest loosely tightening the cover in place and then fitting the harmonic balancer in place, using the balancer to center the seal. The cover's bolts are then tightened.

Tim

I appreciate it. Does the old seal, just pop out? I don't know what the other two holes are. When I took the two bolts out from inside the oil pan that are the only two that help hold the timing cover on. They also had a metal strip that they both went through that was covering two seperate holes. Now I know that I have seen people suggesting drilling and tapping the holes a size larger so you can insert bolts from outside and then you would not have to take off oil pan every time you wanted to take the timing cover off. If you did this, then what do I do about these two holes that I found that are in between the original holes? They are kind of drilled at an angle.

My engine is the 235. I STILL CANt figure out if the seal just pops out of the timing cover? Can someone tell me. I don't want to be too rough with it and bend the cover trying to get it out.

without a puller - kinda hard to describe it, but, from the inside, with a small, angled screwdriver/prybar, hook it under the rubber so that the blade will be under the metal portion of the front of it, rest the edge on a surface while not blocking the seal, and give it a sharp rap with a hammer. no damage to anything other than maybe the rubber/spring

also, the metal strip should have been under the interior bolts, and it's tangs should have been bent up on the bolt heads as keepers/lockers so that the bolts wouldn't loosen from vibration and fall into the engine. but if you do the drill and tap for a front access, the strip won't be needed. and i'm guessing that the inside angled holes are weep holes, and used for any stray oil to drain back to the pan

That describes it pretty good. Now that makes sense, that those holes are weep holes. Thanks alot.

There would not be any extra holes from the outside to the inside in the bottom of that cover. That area is rich in oil flow and that is why they have the seal. If I remember correctly, the reinforcement on the bottom is spot welded on to the cover and the welds may look like holes.

truck - the holes aren't from the outside to the inside of the cover. if i'm correctly remembering, they're on the crankshaft front bearing cap, and drilled on a down angle from cover side to oil sump. i'm going up to the shop shortly so i'll double check my memory

confirmation - they're approx 1/4" dia, and angled down into the pan, as if to drain

When I pulled my cover I had to drop the oil pan to loosen two bolts from the inside.Don't remember if I could pull the seal without removing cover.

yes, Rednate those are the holes I am asking about. So these are for drainage? If I move the bolts to the outside of the cover, these holes will just let oil seep in and out of the gear cover. To and from the oil pan to the timing gear cover? I still can't get this darn seal out of the cover.

the last time i did this it would'nt come out so i figured i go through the back door to get it out. needless to say what i thought was the edge of the seal was not. long story short i had to get a another timing cover the lighting must have been bad that day in the shop. moral of the story, stick with pulling it out from the front via the rubber.

i don't really know, but i can't imagine pulling the seal via the rubber, bec i'd imagine the rubber just ripping out. and when i did it with an angled screw driver and hammer, it popped right out. no damage

i'm only guessing on them being 'drain' holes, and i haven't found an explanation otherwise. and i haven't found any mention as to discarding the locking plate, bec it'd be useless after the conversion ?