Sealing front timing cover and oil pan


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By 46yblock - 17 Years Ago
I've used RTV on both, but it was difficult to get cleaned from surfaces on the next removal.  So tried Permagasket aviation sealer.  A couple days ago the pan and cover needed removal.  Getting the pan off was tough.  After beating around gently with a hammer and piece of wood, hooking a 5 lb dent remover through the oil drain hole and gently hammering the slide upward, heating the flange with heat gun, it still wouldnt budge.  So took a lite weight plastic covered dog leash cable, tied it around the oil plug, screwed the plug in and lifted with the motor lift.  The engine stand started to rise, but not the pan.  In this position again heated the flange and the pan freed.  Gasket was toast, as was the timing cover gasket after its removal.  $20 plus worth of gaskets.

So is there a better way?  What about no sealer on the pan gasket, would it leak a bunch?  What about no sealer on the timing gasket except for RTV around the water ports?

On a side note:  I found out why the intake valve was hitting the piston.  There were only 10 or 11 pins between marks w00t.

Mike

By HT32BSX115 - 17 Years Ago
Mike,



I have found that using RTV or similar gasket sealant will seal ANY gasket and prevent leaks. It also allows for easy removal. (you should really never have to remove your timing cover)



I am more interested in why the timing was wrong to begin with. Did your "machinist" install and time the valve train?



(now you have me worried about mine!! w00t )



I have turned mine and have no issues with it turning. It's been sitting for quite some time so I'm going to fog some more oil in the cyls and turn it some more so I don't have any exposed metal that could corrode.





Merry Christmas! (can we still say that Rolleyes?)





Rick












By paul2748 - 17 Years Ago
Ive used the copper hi temp RTV on intakes, pan, valve covers and front covers and never had a hard time getting them off. Clean up was pretty easy also. My guess you were using an adhesive rather than just plain RTV. They can be mixed up if you don't look at the tube closely enough.
By 46yblock - 17 Years Ago
OK I will go with copper RTV this next time.  Thanks Paul and Rick.  Rick, I wish the wrongly done timing set could be blamed on another person, but I did it, last year.  I remember I was having some difficulty understanding the instructions provided with the roller set.  This time JM's instructions and diagram were used and it was very simple.  But I am going to double check things with a degree wheel before the final final assembly.  It seems like I have put this motor together twice, maybe more.

Mike

By Ted - 17 Years Ago
Another option is to use K&W Coppercoat sealer on the block and pan sides of the gaskets and white grease on the timing cover side of the gaskets.  This allows easier access back in while not destroying the gaskets.
By mctim64 - 17 Years Ago
Using white grease is an old trick I learned building British engines, being notoriously bad leakers, I've had very good luck with this stuff.
By Ted - 17 Years Ago

Tim.  I find the white grease also useful on the intake side of the intake manifold gaskets during a dyno session.  Makes it easy to change intakes without changing the gaskets out near as often.  Works good on oil pan gaskets also.  Glad you agree on the white grease as I’ve been using it for over forty years where applicable.

 

By 46yblock - 17 Years Ago
Ah Hah!  That was what I was looking for!  Thanks Tim and Ted.
By mctim64 - 17 Years Ago
Ted (12/7/2008)

Tim.  I find the white grease also useful on the intake side of the intake manifold gaskets during a dyno session.  Makes it easy to change intakes without changing the gaskets out near as often.  Works good on oil pan gaskets also.  Glad you agree on the white grease as I’ve been using it for over forty years where applicable.

 

 

Yeah, I've used it on intakes also when I want to try different types on the same engine. When I first started working on British cars over twenty six years ago, I was overhauling a B engine and got chewed out for using weatherstrip adhesive for a sealer.  My boss, an English Fellow, made me tear the engine down and told me to start over using white grease. Makes a great sealer but a poor assembly lube, drys hard and plugs oil passages.

By pcmenten - 17 Years Ago
... drys hard and plugs oil passages.




Aha! I wonder if that explains some rocker oiling issues?
By Ted - 17 Years Ago
I’ll add that I use white grease for everything but a lubricant.  For the reasons Tim cited, I will not use it on engine internals simply due to its oil filter clogging attributes and it’s tendency to get hard and crusty over time.  Makes a great coupling fluid for sonic testing though as well as its occaisional use on gaskets.
By DANIEL TINDER - 17 Years Ago
Seems to work well also for sealing the clear plastic plate to the head when CC'ing chambers.



As a side note: The local hack who botched my head build-up suggested white grease when I asked what lube to use when assembling the new rocker/friction-adjusters. Good thing I decided to break them in on a tired, high-mileage motor!