Timing cover gasket

Checked with the stealership for the intake and timing cover gaskets........

$120 for the gaskets, as they only sell them individually

Autozone has the intake set for $20: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

and the timing cover set for $13: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Question is, the timing cover set has a note that says that I NEED to replace the oil pan gasket also. Is this true? Or can I get away with not messing with the oil pan?

Robert....I can check tonight to be certain...but I am pretty sure you can just do the timing cover without replacing the oil pan gasket.

Just remember the sharpee lid trick for the opti drive seal. I messed one up the 1st time. Oh..and really follow the torque settings for the timing cover bolts. They will snap easily if overtightened *cough*

I'm guessing a cam swap on this one?

I've never seen an LT1 timing cover gasket leak to the point of needing to be replaced.

Either way:

You will need to drop the pan to remove the timing cover.

But unless there is a reason to replace the pan gasket, you shouldn't have to buy a new one.

If so, clean both pan rails and block to pan junctions before beginning.

Next, loosen all of the oil pan bolts several turns and remove the first 3 or 4 on each side. The pan should drop onto the x-member by itself.

Using a small screwdriver, insert it into the cover gasket receiver groove and carefully pry/lift the pan gasket free of the timing cover.

Use care not to tear it, as it is fragile and can be ripped easily. Take your time - lifting the engine off the mounts to put a new pan gasket it won't be fun.

Reinstall it with Ultra-Black RTV at the corners and on both sides of the crescent. I first did mine with just a dot on the corners but had to go back in and reseal it before Wagonfest.

Lesson learned on that one...

HTH,

- J

I have a seal (harmonic balancer) that is leaking pretty bad, had to add a quart of oil when I got to the fest, and another one today. Might as well replace them all as the whole damn thing needs to come apart just to fix a $12 part

So, I can just loosen the oil pan, not remove it? GOOD!!! Will keep in mind of the "use-the-whole-tube-of-black-RTV-so-I-don't-have-to-do-it-again" trick

Gotcha...I did forget that the pan had to come down a bit in the front! Here are the pics from when I did my engine a few years ago.


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Chris, what's that big blue honkin' thing under the cover? I think that is leaking too, if not, I bet it will after I replace it

That is the Timing Cover portion of the Oil Pan Gasket.

I like seeing the proper tool used for the Water Pump Drive Seal, not a fan of the pen cap version.

Rob, get the Fel-pro timing cover set at autozone. It has ALL seals and o-rings and it's like 17 bucks. They should stock it.

And if you can get the cover off without destroying the pan gasket, make sure you trim off the pointy "ears" on the inside of the cover rail before re-installation. Keep in mind though, if it's just the crank seal leaking, don't bother removing the timing cover. Just replace the seals!

doesn't the cover have to come off to remove the seals? Someone at the fest said that the seal mounts from behind the cover.

Krzdimond wrote:

doesn't the cover have to come off to remove the seals? Someone at the fest said that the seal mounts from behind the cover.

I'm fairly certain that I installed all mine from the front.

Also fairly certain that I heard that on the internets before, too.

should be quick and easy to fix/check. remove the balancer, replace the seal, then check for leaks. If no more leaks, good! I won't have to remove the opti.

Krzdimond wrote:

doesn't the cover have to come off to remove the seals? Someone at the fest said that the seal mounts from behind the cover.

Yeah, the seal goes in from the front. Just like the rear inner seals on the rotors....or rear seal in the transmission.

brokecello wrote:

Krzdimond wrote:

doesn't the cover have to come off to remove the seals? Someone at the fest said that the seal mounts from behind the cover.

Yeah, the seal goes in from the front. Just like the rear inner seals on the rotors....or rear seal in the transmission.

Yup. In from the front. Just like the rears.

toomanytoyz wrote:

brokecello wrote:

Krzdimond wrote:

doesn't the cover have to come off to remove the seals? Someone at the fest said that the seal mounts from behind the cover.

Yeah, the seal goes in from the front. Just like the rear inner seals on the rotors....or rear seal in the transmission.

Yup. In from the front. Just like the rears.

Lol