302 Seals
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Junior User
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From: East Tenn.
302 Seals
My 83 302 leaks a little oil out the front and rear seals. My question is can these be replaced by just dropping the pan, or does the crank have to be dropped also??
OK its still to early for me to think straight. I know the rear one has to have the tranny pulled. Its the front seal I'm wondering about.
OK its still to early for me to think straight. I know the rear one has to have the tranny pulled. Its the front seal I'm wondering about.
Last edited by TigerDan; Nov 14, 2005 at 08:42 AM.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
The front seal is located in the timing cover, so it requires removing the front pulleys and the balancer to begin with. Early engines had the seal installed from the rear, requiring removal of the timing cover to replace the seal. It was changed at one point so that it was installed from the front which makes in-the-vehicle replacement much easier. I'm not sure when the change took place, but I believe it was early '80s, possibly '81 when the change to a one-piece rear seal took place. So you may have the front-installed front seal. You'll be able to tell for sure when you get the balancer off. If it's the rear installed seal and you have to pull the front cover, it might be a good opportunity to change the timing chain and gears. That nylon cam sprocket is the weak point of these engines, and you can get an economy type double-roller set for about 30 bucks...could save you a major hassle down the road.
At least with the one-piece rear seal you don't have to drop the pan...!
At least with the one-piece rear seal you don't have to drop the pan...!
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Junior User
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From: East Tenn.
An update on the seal. I pulled it out from the front. Thought I had it made on not having to pull waterpump, AC and timing chain cover. BULL. The only replacement I could find are the ones that install from the inside of the cover. I checked all the usual parts places and thats all they stock. I guess thats a good way to sale those gasket kits.
BTW, I was just tinkering on it (I'm on vacation this week) the front seal was definately bad, about 1/4 of the lip of the seal was gone. Thats gonna take care of my oil leakage. The thermostat cover gasket was shot, leaking but didn't know it because it evaporated on the engine. Thats gonna take care of my antifreeze loss. The front intake manifold gasket was shot, just the tips of the ends were even crushed, the rest was RTVed to death. Gonna redo this with silicon. Not sure what this gonna fix.
Geez I'm bout afraid to see what I'm gonna find when I take the other stuff off.
BTW, I was just tinkering on it (I'm on vacation this week) the front seal was definately bad, about 1/4 of the lip of the seal was gone. Thats gonna take care of my oil leakage. The thermostat cover gasket was shot, leaking but didn't know it because it evaporated on the engine. Thats gonna take care of my antifreeze loss. The front intake manifold gasket was shot, just the tips of the ends were even crushed, the rest was RTVed to death. Gonna redo this with silicon. Not sure what this gonna fix.
Geez I'm bout afraid to see what I'm gonna find when I take the other stuff off.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
Be careful with that silicone. Too much of that stuff and you can end up with it floating around inside your engine, till it gets sucked up by the oil pump and then you're looking at a whole new problem!
Try asking the parts store for a seal for a newer 5.0. I just rebuilt an '88, it had the front installing seal. They just may list the rear-install seal for yours, so that's all they can do. You need a parts guy with a little creativity and intelligence, not one of these kids who only knows how to punch it into the computer and is lost when it doesn't come up with what you need. Look for one of those crusty old-timers, they know how to actually look stuff up!
Try asking the parts store for a seal for a newer 5.0. I just rebuilt an '88, it had the front installing seal. They just may list the rear-install seal for yours, so that's all they can do. You need a parts guy with a little creativity and intelligence, not one of these kids who only knows how to punch it into the computer and is lost when it doesn't come up with what you need. Look for one of those crusty old-timers, they know how to actually look stuff up!
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Junior User
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From: East Tenn.
Actually its OK. If I could've gotten the front installed seal I would've went that way. But since I gotta go this route it'll give me a chance to change those old gaskets and check my water pump blades and timing gear.
