Engine: Felt seal install

[Guest]

Guys - What's the secret to replacing this seal in my timing cover? Thanks!

[63looks59]

I dug the old one out with a sharp pointed mini pick.....then worked the new one in a little bit at a time... dont tear it or cut it ....I may have lubricated it a little with my fingers....some folks put a rubber seal in there but that requires some machining---- I dont know how to do that...... other folks recommend drilling a very very small diameter hole in the housing of the seal...that supposedly helps lubrication since the felt design is not the greatest--- and that I do not know how to do....but others will help you I am sure

[Guest]

Thank you for that! Poking around online, I found this, which is basically what 63looks59 said: https://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/engine/cs100.htm

[Hawklover]

Guys - What's the secret to replacing this seal in my timing cover? Thanks!

I believe a fellow named Ingvar Vic (sp) was putting neoprene seals in front timing cases, this goes back to the late 90's, part of this process was drilling a tiny hole in the case to allow small amounts of oil that would have built up to escape and not over run the seals "capacity" All this is something I remember from the past, indeed when I rebuilt the engine in my Avanti I utilized one of his covers with the new seal and tiny hole in the case............I can say the front is still dry and free of leaks............wish I could say that was true for the rest of the bottom of the engine ;-)

[bensherb]

http://www.studebaker-info.org/Tech/...2/oilseal.html

Here's the mod to keep leaking to a minimum.

[Ross]

The six cylinder cars with the pressed steel cover can not be done like the die cast V-8 covers. Without a major rework one can not use a rubber seal.

To install the felt seal place it between two plates of metal and put it in a vise and squeeze it down hard to make it as thin as possible. Let it sit like that in the vise for a few minutes and then work it into your timing cover. By the time you get it all in it will return to normal thickness. Take a minute and drill a 1/8" hole at the 6 o'clock position so that excess oil in the seal will be able to drain out in the future. Before you install the cover thoroughly soak the felt with oil. Put the cover on loosely and install the vibration damper hub so the cover will center up on the hub, and then tighten your timing cover bolts. Commander and Champion sixes have the same design and I actually have very little trouble with it.

[nvonada]

It goes in pretty easy. I worked it in with a small screwdriver then worked it in with a deepwell socket until the pulley fit. I soaked it in oil before assembly and it has been working just fine.