Front Seal Sealer
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New User
Joined: Oct 2003
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Front Seal Sealer
I'm putting my 351M back together and after putting the front cover, water pump and oil pan on I realized that I didn't use any sealer when i put the front crank seal into the cover. I must have mis-read the instructions the first time and put a little grease on the inside of the cover before banging the seal into place. later I re-read the instructions and they said to put a little sealer on the inside of the cover before putting the seal in. Anyone ever install one without sealer? It seems so tight that oil would not leak but now I'm concerned. I really don't want to redo this. I've installed seals similar to this in motorcycle engines without leaking, do I have anything to worry about?
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis, MN
I think the paint on the outside of the seal will act as a "sealant", filling voids in the two surfaces. I've put them together without any sealer and haven't had any problems but I like to use it and be sure.
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16
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I just did the same thing! I have not got the motor back in yet and I'm considering breaking it down to reinstall the seal. What do you think after a year Budman? Anyone else?
I was sure to clean the area to bare metal with a wire wheel prior to driving in the seal.
I was sure to clean the area to bare metal with a wire wheel prior to driving in the seal.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
Likes: 9
From: iowa
I have never used sealer on a front main seal, and have never had one leak yet, on mine or any others I worked on, and I used to work in a chebbie dealership, and those people will definatly let you know if one leaks
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 987
Likes: 2
From: East Bend, Carolina, U.S
One thing that will almost always create a leak on the front seals is a groove worn into the harmonic balancer. If there is a groove already started then the new seal will leak sooner than you will expect it to.
I am not sure but I think I remember reading somewhere that there are seals made with offsets built into them to allow the seals to ride in a different location on things like axles, harmonic balancers and such. If I am wrong then some company should make them because I know I would buy them.
I am not sure but I think I remember reading somewhere that there are seals made with offsets built into them to allow the seals to ride in a different location on things like axles, harmonic balancers and such. If I am wrong then some company should make them because I know I would buy them.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
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You guys are correct, I talked to a reputable speed shop yesterday. The reddish paint on the seal is actually very thick and intended to work as a sealer.
Purely Ford, actually there aren't any offset seals that I've seen, but there is .030 sleeve that press fits over the damper to cover the groove and provide a smooth seal surface. They're readily available from a good parts store and the extra thickness is no problem for the seal.
Purely Ford, actually there aren't any offset seals that I've seen, but there is .030 sleeve that press fits over the damper to cover the groove and provide a smooth seal surface. They're readily available from a good parts store and the extra thickness is no problem for the seal.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
didnt use sealer on mine, no problems after 2 years....interestingly enough, i have a little story with having to replace that front seal. My father, in his infinite wisdom, looked at why the old one failed and we noticed the front cover to be slightly bent and the seal rubber shifted out of concentricity. It appears some fool tried to push the cover on the dowels without dropping the pan first. Just an example of something to look out for in the install process!
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 639
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From: not mass
indeed mine had the same bending thing because i used the rubber seal just grond the corner of the lip off and it didn't work just tweaked the cover
so i tryed a new cover WITHOUT the rubber pan seal and used miricle black goop in the grove and let it "dry" any bolted it on no replacing pan gasket lol
so i tryed a new cover WITHOUT the rubber pan seal and used miricle black goop in the grove and let it "dry" any bolted it on no replacing pan gasket lol