Technical Thoughts on reusing front crank seal after pulling balancer?

A few years ago I bought a brand new GM 350ci/290 hp crate engine for a project. I bought a **** balancer, installed it, and mocked everything up. Now two years later I'm getting into final ***embly and tore the engine down to clean it off, paint and clear it, re***emble it, and install it in the car for good. Obviously I pulled the balancer back off to paint the engine, but do I need to replace this seal? The engine has literally never ran. I just didn't know if this is one of those deals where once the balancer is on the seal is no good after. Of course I'd rather leave it, since I'd really rather not pull the timing cover off to press a new one in the right way.

Thoughts on this one?

 

Run it!

 

I would run it with out replacing it, but I wouldn’t pull the cover off to press on a new on. That’s me right or wrong.

 

2X on both of the above...

 

It's going to leak no matter what you do so I'd run it...

 

Ah c'mon man, I don't want to hear that kind of negativity haha.

 

It will be fine, heat cycles, vibration and friction are what kills it.

Right now it is still no different than if it had sat in it's original box on the shelf.

 

Run it!

 

Put a bit of oil on the lip before reinstalling the balancer.

 

Take a minute & think how pissed you'll be if it leaks & how much of a h***le it is to replace after its in the car .........I think they're under $10........ & about 1/2 an hour to replace while its sitting on the stand .........