Timing cover sub flush of block - help!
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Teching In
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Timing cover sub flush of block - help! Hey I know this has been covered but I could find anything on this. Maybe I missed it! If so just put a link. 5.3 truck engine.
I put my balancer on with timing cover loose then torque my timing cover. The oil pan was on and hand threaded the front bolts.
Then attempted to put an f body oil pan Holley 302-1 knock off. I noticed the timing cover is sub flush of the block. By 1/16 ish (I didn't measure). Engine is on a stand I was going to loosen the timing cover and snug the bolts with 1/4" ratchet, put a level on the back of block to make it flush (transmission is not mounted). The tighten (not torque) the rear bolts, then the same on the front to get the timing cover flush or barely sub flush. Then loosen all bolts and torque in the proper sequence. I forgot I centered the timing cover by pressing the balancer with the bolts loose!
Is that an okay plan or any recommendations?
I put my balancer on with timing cover loose then torque my timing cover. The oil pan was on and hand threaded the front bolts.
Then attempted to put an f body oil pan Holley 302-1 knock off. I noticed the timing cover is sub flush of the block. By 1/16 ish (I didn't measure). Engine is on a stand I was going to loosen the timing cover and snug the bolts with 1/4" ratchet, put a level on the back of block to make it flush (transmission is not mounted). The tighten (not torque) the rear bolts, then the same on the front to get the timing cover flush or barely sub flush. Then loosen all bolts and torque in the proper sequence. I forgot I centered the timing cover by pressing the balancer with the bolts loose!
Is that an okay plan or any recommendations?
Damper will center the cover. Simply turn the cover til it’s same distance each side at block, on the oil pan rails. 99.9% of the time you’ll want to trim the gasket there with a razor knife, because it’s hanging down slightly into the oil pan gasket. The damper install will ensure that the cover is in the correct place. If you attempt to move the cover up or down, it will leak at the front seal.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2023
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Damper will center the cover. Simply turn the cover til it’s same distance each side at block, on the oil pan rails. 99.9% of the time you’ll want to trim the gasket there with a razor knife, because it’s hanging down slightly into the oil pan gasket. The damper install will ensure that the cover is in the correct place. If you attempt to move the cover up or down, it will leak at the front seal.
Alright and it's ok it the timing cover is a bit below the block?
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Before there was cheap LS tools I doing a cam swap in an LS and I was worried about the front cover alignment. I happened to have a truck front dampener on the shelf. So I took a brake cylinder hone and honed it out until it just slid over the crank snout. Worked well to center the cover with the oil seal installed.
I think I saw that tip in Car Craft magazine.
I think I saw that tip in Car Craft magazine.
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Joined: Sep 2008
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The modded truck pulley has worked for me in the past. Yes I agree the modded pulley relies on the cover oil seal. But my 98 Wrangler has 15 years on the LS6 swap and not a single leak. Now I have a round plastic tool that has an o-ring to hold it in place that goes into the cover without the oil seal in place. Works good.
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Thread Starter
Teching In
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I may be misunderstanding, but the last few comments sound like you have to use a tool or homemade tool to align the timing cover?
I have read multiple people aligning the timing cover with the balancer when pressing it on with success.
My understanding was that with the timing cover loose the crank pulley would center the timing cover.
Maybe I should ask the question differently, with RTV in the covers of the oil pan gasket is a leak likely with the timing cover below the block? I can measure tomorrow.
OR
Do I need to pull off the crank, replace the crank oil seal, get an alignment tool, and align the cover?
I have to take my balancer bolt off to pin my crank anyway. Thank the good Lord I got the ARP crank bolt!
I have read multiple people aligning the timing cover with the balancer when pressing it on with success.
My understanding was that with the timing cover loose the crank pulley would center the timing cover.
Maybe I should ask the question differently, with RTV in the covers of the oil pan gasket is a leak likely with the timing cover below the block? I can measure tomorrow.
OR
Do I need to pull off the crank, replace the crank oil seal, get an alignment tool, and align the cover?
I have to take my balancer bolt off to pin my crank anyway. Thank the good Lord I got the ARP crank bolt!
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