Thread: Front cam cover seal oil leak

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Since I installed a remanufactured engine I've been having a difficult time with an oil leak on the front of the engine behind the harmonic balancer. It drips about 1 drip per 2 seconds.

The original engine had a plastic timing cover which didn't fit the remanufactured one so I went out and bought a shiny cheapo one for $17 with included seal. I followed the leak with my fingers and It seems to be coming from the oil seal. I've been working on this problem for quite some time, here is what I have done so far.

I've replaced the seal 3 times, sanded the seal surface on the balancer (600) and added an speedi-sleeve, seal still leaks.

My next idea is to install another new timing cover with seal, but I fear it will still leak. I'm out of ideas and frustrated, any idea what I am doing wrong?

well are you sure that block did not need the plastic cover? older tin cover needs dowel pins to line up the seal up to hub. the front of new block. has no pins to help center it up. it has shoulder bolts to help center the plastic cover so at this point with the tin front cover if you block as no pins. the hub centers it up on seal you need to keep cover bolts loose till damper is on this helps center it up then draw all cover bolts down

dose the damper have a groove worn inti it??? a sleeve can be found at any good parts store that slipps over the machined part of the damper it will last for about 30,000 miles before needing replacement if your going to keep the car install a new damper.

he has a speed sleeve on the old damper i would not bet alot of money on a cheap chrome cover that the size or any thing else is on the money .i used some were the fit was so /so and had one that would not hold a new seal it would fall out on the floor no press fit i would use a stocker and seal the crank to hub were the key way is can weep out i use RTV for this

They do make an oversize seal for the timming chain cover, I had this same problem and it worked for me.

Don't know about this particular engine but, a lot of them use a slinger that goes on first to help keep oil away from the seal. Maybe yours needs one and it's not there?

newer sbc do not used a slinger

Well. It was a good thought! LOL...

Originally Posted by 34_40

Well. It was a good thought! LOL...

yes it was right now i building a engine that as no rear main seal no rope no rubber not one thing i spent sometime looking it over as i did not take it apart.... it has a slinger on the crank hub and a U groove in the block and cap the main cap is drill with a drain tube for run off dumps in the oil pan. hard to think they never used a seal ? its a first for me good thing is i did not have to play with a rope seal .bad thing is i spent more time making sure it did not need some kind of felt or leather or rope seal

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

yes it was right now i building a engine that as no rear main seal no rope no rubber not one thing i spent sometime looking it over as i did not take it apart.... it has a slinger on the crank hub and a U groove in the block and cap the main cap is drill with a drain tube for run off dumps in the oil pan. hard to think they never used a seal ? its a first for me good thing is i did not have to play with a rope seal .bad thing is i spent more time making sure it did not need some kind of felt or leather or rope seal

It sounds like the ones we have at work, our centrifuges don't use a rope or rubber medium either. It has what's known as a labrynth seal. Works fine as long as they maintain a slight negative pressure inside! Keep a good PCV system in that motor!