Underdrive pulley install. Need to replace the seal?
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,164
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From: Frankenmuth, MI
Underdrive pulley install. Need to replace the seal? I've been getting all of my tooling and parts together to perform my pulley install. I never saw anyone mention replacing the seal in old threads. I started thinking about it and now I'm not sure if I need to replace it or not, I've done some searching and of course most answers say to replace it just to do it right. I just wanted some other opinions if the seal currently isn't leaking what are the chances I'll damage it and cause a leak? Has anyone done the swap wuthout replacing it an had success with it? If I do need to replace it any recommendations on tooling or techniques to replace it without removing the whole cover?
I'm sure it would be easier to wait until heads/cam but I'm really going to try my best for stock internal 11s so I'd like the extra possible .1 from the pulley. If its too much of a pain i may reconsider lol. Any help or info is greatly appreciated!
I'm sure it would be easier to wait until heads/cam but I'm really going to try my best for stock internal 11s so I'd like the extra possible .1 from the pulley. If its too much of a pain i may reconsider lol. Any help or info is greatly appreciated!
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Boston, MA
It's a bit of a bear to just pull out; its safer to just pull the timing cover and pop it out from the rear; but you'll want a new timing cover seal as well...
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,164
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From: Frankenmuth, MI
I guess I may have to wait for a cam or tear the whole thing down. I guess I'm just surprised I haven't seen it pop up much but maybe it's because most do it during a cam install and it requires it at that point anyways. Anyone else attempt to do it without removing the cover? I was hoping there would be some hope that it would be easy lol.. I appreciate the responses!
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From: Boston, MA
I guess I may have to wait for a cam or tear the whole thing down. I guess I'm just surprised I haven't seen it pop up much but maybe it's because most do it during a cam install and it requires it at that point anyways. Anyone else attempt to do it without removing the cover? I was hoping there would be some hope that it would be easy lol.. I appreciate the responses!
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,164
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From: Frankenmuth, MI
OK I may do that then.. I'd need a new timing cover seal, water pump gaskets, and a crankshaft seal, and rtv sealant for the bottom of the timing cover right? More than I planned on but if that is the easiest way than I guess I'll give it a shot
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TECH Resident
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From: Boston, MA
I had to really go at it with a hammer to relieve it. Maybe if you tried carefully heating the metal around the seal it would give you more give.... But I'd find it much easier to pull a few bolts than fiddling around.
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Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,164
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From: Frankenmuth, MI
OK sounds good! Looks like I'll order a few more gaskets and give it a shot... I'm sure I could use some new coolant anyways. Too bad I couldn't just slap a cam in at this point lol.. maybe next year!
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From: Boston, MA
Well: the hardest part of the cam install for me (aside from wrestling with the oil pump that I decided to replace) was getting that damn pulley off and on.... So if you feel comfortable with all that then you'll be pretty well-suited for a cam swap next year!
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Frankenmuth, MI
Yeah I've heard the oil pumps can be a fun time but i always hear the pulley is the worst lol.. it doesn't look like I need to remove a ton to clear out the timing cover unless I'm missing something? Looks like mainly the water pump and the pulley.. I'm wondering if the radiator will need to come out or not? after some searching it sounds like people are talking about removing 2 front oil pan bolts and having to use alignment tools and stuff to get it aligned properly.. is it all that complicated?
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From: Boston, MA
Yeah I've heard the oil pumps can be a fun time but i always hear the pulley is the worst lol.. it doesn't look like I need to remove a ton to clear out the timing cover unless I'm missing something? Looks like mainly the water pump and the pulley.. I'm wondering if the radiator will need to come out or not? after some searching it sounds like people are talking about removing 2 front oil pan bolts and having to use alignment tools and stuff to get it aligned properly.. is it all that complicated?
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Frankenmuth, MI
OK cool I'll have to see if I can find those videos.. I'm guessing after the pulley went back on I'd have to sneak a little rtv sealant at the bottom of the cover then finish tightening from there.. thanks for the responses im just trying to make sure I get it right the first time, don't feel like removing the pulley twice lol
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Boston, MA
OK cool I'll have to see if I can find those videos.. I'm guessing after the pulley went back on I'd have to sneak a little rtv sealant at the bottom of the cover then finish tightening from there.. thanks for the responses im just trying to make sure I get it right the first time, don't feel like removing the pulley twice lol
Most RTV actually calls for a cure time before final torque (something most of us skip anyways) so even if it sets up a little you should be covered.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,164
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From: Frankenmuth, MI
OK sounds good, I was thinking of the possibility of me having trouble installing it and it curing too quick.. but i do have an install tool that should make it go pretty quick.. thanks for the advice.. now just gotta get all of my gaskets ordered and I'll be good.