What's the trick??
 

My car is leaking oil from the seal in the timing cover where the shaft goes through to drive the water pump. When I replaced the opti I replaced all the seals in the timing coverbut right off the bat it started to leak. And I even bought a new shaft that pokes through thinking it might have a wore spot. I did notice that it was kinda loose, a little play sideways motion in the seal. So what's the trick to keep it from leaking? The seal is GM along with everything else.

It's probably because you didn't keep the lip of the seal facing inward.
There are a couple of things you can do. One that I have heard of is using a sharpie marker body slipped over the water pump drive shaft. You have to find one the right size. Or you can try to find some plastic that will slip over the shaft. Basically, you have to stop the shaft from pushing the lip outward when you seat the seal on the cover.

When you say keep it inward do you mean towards the timing chain?

There is an article with pics on cz8 with a sharpie "tool" made to do this, it keeps the seal the way it is supposed to be without tearing it.

An equivalent sized socket soaked in oil which is the same diameter as the splined shaft will also work.

^Yes.

u have a link. my car leaks a little oil from the same spot.

here ya go http://www.camaroz28.com/forums/show...hlight=sharpie

Nice, good pic too.

Get an E-WP and do away with that hole ;)