4.3 front seal

[Gary H NC]

I'm getting ready to change the front seal and timing chain gasket on my 87 4.3 omc.<br />Is there anything special anyone knows of about tearing the front down? Anything special about removing the harmonic balancer?<br />I was just wondering.I have done this job on a automotive engine before but not a marine engine.<br />Any suggestions would be helpful...Thanks

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: 4.3 front seal

What I found when I did mine...the oil pan needs to be removed/loosened to get the new "front cover" gasket on. The gasket sorta "tucks" into the oilpan and it took lots of colorful words to get it right (without removing the oilpan - which would have meant pulling the engine or hiring the dwarf from the Orbitz commercial to get into the bilge to remove the bolts).<br /><br />Nothing special about the balancer..I just rented the puller from Autozone and pulled it.<br /><br />-JMW

 

[Bondo]

Re: 4.3 front seal

Ayuh,....... The Bottom of the Timing Cover IS the Sealing Surface for the Front of the Oil Pan........<br /><br />Sooo,.... In a Perfect World,... The Oil Pan is installed After the Timing Cover......<br /><br />BTW,...... Are you Sure it's the Seal or Gasket,..???... Usually they Leak there because the Timing Cover is Rusted Thru..........

 

[bandsaw48]

Re: 4.3 front seal

Gary, I did this very job on my 87 omc 4.3 just a few weeks ago. If I had only known... I would have pulled the engine. Like Bondo said, the pan has come on last. Not easy in the bottom of the bilge. <br /><br />During reassembly, I discovered the harmonic balancer was able to move too far toward the engine causing pulley misalignment.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 4.3 front seal

I was hoping to do it without removing the engine. I have enough room to maybe drop the oil pan but it will be hard to do.<br />Bondo' Not sure if its the gasket or not.I'm hoping so.Best i can tell the front seal is leaking.Maybe i better put up with a oil leak untill fall.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 4.3 front seal

Another thought.A mechanic i know that builds race engines told me i could cut the front edge of the oil pan gasket and piece in a new one on the front lip of the pan when i put the timing cover back on...thus not removing the oil pan. He said to clean everything good and use lots of gasket sealer..<br />Anyone tried this method?

 

[Bondo]

Re: 4.3 front seal

I've seen it Work..........CLEAN is the Key Word,......<br /><br />Clean Surfaces,......<br /><br />Clean Cuts,........

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 4.3 front seal

Thanks Bondo.I was hoping you could answer this.<br />looks like a good weekend project sometime after the holiday weekend.<br />Have you ever welded a leaking cover that has rusted thru? just in case...or break out the JB weld..