I hope this fixes the problem. I toss chrome covers in the trash, sometimes I beat them senseless first.
If this fixes the leak...I'm going to see what kind of damage that running it over, repeatedly, with my COE does.
Sounds like multiple problems, but most related to the aftermarket chrome cover. Since so little of the cover is visible, I'd go back to the stock cover. I also never install a timing cover crank seal without some sealer on the outside perimeter of the seal. I know they come with that thin coating, but I don't trust it. The pan gasket up front is pretty easy to see if it needs to be the thick or thin gasket. Just test fit the pan without sealer on the pan side, and you'll instantly see how the front seal fits.
No "instant" anything. With the engine behind the cab, there is little room to get a decent view to see anything. I really just had to guess as to which seal to use. I first installed everything with the thin seal and it seemed like it barely touched the oil pan (if at all) at the bottom of the seal...I felt this was not right so I put in the thick seal. I do not know what year engine the replacement GM timing cover came from, but the tab is in the right place for an 8" balancer, so I suspect a mid 80's 400 from a truck. When the thick seal was in the cover, it was more or less even with the bottom of the cover. The thin seal sat well down in the groove and was roughly an 1/8" to the edge of the cover. Hope I chose right. What a goopy, nasty, yucky job to do from the underside of an engine...! everything drips, everything is oily, and sealant gets everywhere. So, If it drips oil, it is not for a lack of sealer! (I did clean it up and sprayed painted everything so it looks somewhat decent.) It is tough to continue assembling everything with my fingers crossed.
Someone suggested using the one piece oil pan gasket, I guess you didn't get the message. It makes the job a lot easier. Although you have to know for sure which timing cover you have, as the entire gasket is different for the two. Now you know...
I bought the one piece gasket but cannot not remove the oil pan with the engine in the truck. Getting the engine out with the bed installed is another huge ordeal. My only workable solution was to drop the front of the pan 1/2" until it hit the cross-member and work with the old pan gaskets and just replace the front seal. I fired it up and no leaks...I then took it on a road test and the front seal did not appear to leak...the rest of the oil pan however, drips like a deep fried turkey...ugh! I actually suspected the side oil pan gaskets would leak. They squished out as I hand tightened them. I wish I could get the one piece gasket in, but there is just not enough room. I plan on installing new Fel-Pro gaskets using Indian Head or #2 non-hardening sealer next. I am also going to run masking tape around the inside of the balancer. It will show any oil splatter better than the black paint.
Knock on wood, but the timing cover does not appear to leak anymore. However, now I am chasing other leaks...! I removed the oil pan and installed a one-piece oil pan gasket and it leaks from some of the center bolts. I just tried snugging them up a little more and hope that helps, otherwise all I can think to do, is to pull the pan again and put in the old style gaskets with a ton of sealant. I also developed a coolant leak. I had to remove the two front intake manifold bolts when I replace the timing cover (bracket mount) and I suspect that it what it is leaking. The fun never ends...or in this case, never seems to begin.
Are the bolt holes in the oil pan "dented in" from being tightened too much? I have a habit of smacking them all flat before I put a sheet metal part on an engine
I flattened the bolt holes before installing the pan. I cleaned all surfaces very well, then put a pea size blob of silicone sealer at the corners, both above and below the gasket. I tightened all the bolts very lightly as I don't have an in-lb wrench. I went around time and time again working from center out until it felt snug. After it leaked from two or three bolts, I gave everything a stronger tightening. I am only using my palm on the center of a small 1/4" ratchet wrench, but still not cranked down too hard. It leaked right near three central bolt heads... If it still leaks, I might pull the leaking bolts out and goop them with #2 flexible sealant then put them back in.
Those gaskets usually have metal sleeves at each bolt hole, so you want to torque them down kind of tight.
check to see if them bolt holes go thru the skirt in the block , if it does then a dab of sealer on the threads . the only one of the one piece gaskets I seen leak was when the owner put silicone sealer on the pan face and it created a leak .
The Jalopy Journal
