Whats the best way to line up the front and rear covers?

 

They make a special tool for it but its pretty expensive and not that easily available. I've got a book that states you can do without this tool. Rear cover, install rear cover with new rear main seal installed in the cover (this will center the cover). Then using the oil pan rails and a straight edge make sure there is not more than a .020" drop between the oil pain gasket surface on the block and the bottom of the cover. Front cover is the same but you must install the harmonic balancer before you can tighten the cover down just follow the same .020" drop between the oil pan rail and the bottom of the cover.

 

for the front, install loosely all the bolts, push/pull your harmonic balancer/crank shaft pulley and once thats on tight, then torque your bolts to 22-24 ft/lbs each.

GL

 

wow i didnt know there was a special way to install them i have always just bolted them on there and never had a problem and i have done about 15 cam swaps 6 of them were on my truck and never replaced the gaskets never leaked

 

I used an old Balancer, honed out the inner part. then it slips over the crank freely.. I use it to center the front cover and tighten the bolts. Then I can remove the balancer with easy and continue any other part of the build.

 

This works inside the car, I was assuming we were talking about puting the covers on while on an engine stand.

 

The aforementioned directions are what I've done as well. As far as aligning the pan I've always put the bolts in finger tight and make sure it's flush with the rear and front cover edges and tighten it down checking it after the first 2 bolts are torqued to make sure it didn't move and then knock the rest of them out if it's good after that. Don't let the book scare you though cause it's not a hard task at all. Keeping it flush seems to be working for everyone.

 

Thanks for all the replys. Good idea on the old balancer.
The engine is on the stand.