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300 timing cover seal

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Sac79

300 timing cover seal

Hey everyone, happy new year and all that. I still check on all your projects now and then, just haven't felt like sharing as my truck has really gotten me down. I don't remember when I last posted, but I've probably changed the oil pan gasket 3 times since then! I'll share more in my build thread when I finally have this fixed...

Needless to say, I'm currently doing it again and replacing the timing cover seal as well.

So my question - Is there a 'correct' orientation for the seal? As in does it have to face out?

Or better yet, the opposite of this?

Rob

Eddy Myrtle '84 F150 300-6, Offenhauser C series intake, Edelbrock 1404(500cfm manual choke), EFI exhaust manifold, HEI dizzy, custom Painless harness, NP 435, NP 208, D44, 8.8"/3.08, 1.5" leveling coils, 265/75/16 tires.
Toyopet (Daily driver) '86 Toyota Pickup

Sac79

Re: 300 timing cover seal

Posting issues...

This picture is from the inside of the cover.

I installed it this way after the rebuild as well and blamed the resulting leak on a wobbly balancer. Then installed it the same way after replacing the balancer. I can detect a pattern emerging...

I can't find any pictorial evidence of how it was installed before I took it all apart. I guess my reasoning was since it's installed from the inside, it should face that way, but I guess I was wrong. Please confirm my suspicions...

Gary Lewis

Re: 300 timing cover seal

Administrator

Have you looked at the factory shop manual sections that are on the page at Documentation/Engines/4.9L? I'm looking at it now and see that on the 1981 version they show an illustration on Page 18 of installing the seal.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

Sac79

Re: 300 timing cover seal

Sorry Gary, I did not want you to 'Bullnose bible' something for me...(but you taking the time to bother is appreciated, as always) I have an '84 shop manual with the same figure, it doesn't clarify the orientation of the seal.

Gary Lewis

Re: 300 timing cover seal

Administrator

I didn't do anything for you. But doesn't that illustration show driving the seal in from inside the cover?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Sac79

Re: 300 timing cover seal

Yes, that's the only way to install it, the seal doesn't fit from the outside. But you could still drive the seal in facing outwards... It would be unusual to drive the seal on the back ridge and not on the face, but I'm grabbing at straws!

Hstrymkrs

Re: 300 timing cover seal

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1985 Ford Bronco XLT, 4.9L, NP-435 transmission, NP0208 transfer case, 3.55 limited slip rear end,TTB Dana 44 with 3.54

mat in tn

Re: 300 timing cover seal

Look closely at the seal. Can you see a fine seal retention spring? If so that should be facing the”wet” side. Interior of the engine.

Sac79

Re: 300 timing cover seal

Thanks, that's the way I'm going to do it. It makes sense since that's the way every other seal I've installed works(with the spring 'open' side facing the 'wet'), but this is the only seal that is installed from the 'wet' side, hence my confusion and mistake...

FuzzFace2

Re: 300 timing cover seal

I dont remember installing the seal from the inside out when I replaced the timing cover gasket new years eve of this year

Now my motor I believe is of newer year so maybe the covers / seals are different?
As pointed out the spring or the seals V is to the wet side.
I did not get any pictures when I was doing this job as I just wanted it done before the ball dropped!

Maybe I was lucky when I did the cover gasket but so far no leaks that I can see with a quick look.
Dave ----

ps yes it was done before the ball drop

Dave G.
81 F100 flare side 300 six / AA OD / NP435 / 2.75 gear
http://cars.grantskingdom1.com/index.php/1980-Ford-F100?page=1
81 F100 style side 300 six/SROD parts truck -RIP
http://cars.grantskingdom1.com/index.php/1981-Ford-F100

ratdude747

Re: 300 timing cover seal

In reply to this post by Sac79

I installed mine from the outside of the cover. That's how the original seal was installed.

That said, I had to buy a few before I got one that fit. The one in the gasket set I ordered was a fail (too big, wouldn't fit the cover). The next one was too old to safely use (looks like a part from the 60's!). Third time was the charm.

1984 F150: 300 L6, AOD, RWD. EEC IV / TFI, Feedback Carter YFA Carb. Stock everything but radio (for now).

FuzzFace2

Re: 300 timing cover seal

ratdude747 wrote

I installed mine from the outside of the cover. That's how the original seal was installed.

That said, I had to buy a few before I got one that fit. The one in the gasket set I ordered was a fail (too big, wouldn't fit the cover). The next one was too old to safely use (looks like a part from the 60's!). Third time was the charm.

Mine was a good fit first time, Felt-Pro kit IIRC
Dave ----

Sac79

Re: 300 timing cover seal

In reply to this post by ratdude747

Oh no, definitely not(in reference to the original installation method). Why would the shop manual demonstrate installation from the inside and the seal that is required(recommended for some I guess) only fit that way?

I definitely believe that someone at some point thought that was too much work and simply tried a few seals until they found one that fit from the outside. Or they just thought it was a dumb design(I agree there). But they still had to remove the original from the inside... I guess they were anticipating having to replace it again? Maybe that's what happened to yours at some point. The outside lip is tiny, I would personally never have thought to do that. As far as I can tell, the timing cover never changed on the 300, but maybe it did and you and Dave have a different one?

Sac79

Re: 300 timing cover seal

I did finish the installation yesterday and went for a drive today. So far so good, went about 30 miles(the trip meter stopped working

always something) and it's bone dry. Will check again tomorrow.

grumpin

Re: 300 timing cover seal

Looks like success!

Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona

Gary Lewis

Re: 300 timing cover seal

Administrator

In reply to this post by Sac79

Yes, it is always something. But, dry is PROGRESS!

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile