Sac79 Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sac79 Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 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...http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/uploads/6/5/8/7/65879365/head-slap-23_orig.gif 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 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... 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sac79 Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 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. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 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. I didn't do anything for you. But doesn't that illustration show driving the seal in from inside the cover? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sac79 Posted February 25, 2022 Author Share Posted February 25, 2022 I didn't do anything for you. But doesn't that illustration show driving the seal in from inside the cover? 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hstrymkrs Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 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! - deleted - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat in tn Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 - deleted - 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sac79 Posted February 25, 2022 Author Share Posted February 25, 2022 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. 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzFace2 Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 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... 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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