I have developed a leak coming from the timing cover crankshaft seal on my v8. This leak may have been caused by a side load from the pulley or simply incorrect installation of the seal on the cover.
My question is: can i replace this seal without dropping the oil pan and just dropping the rear of the cradle and removing the harmonic balancer/crankshaft pulley?
This leak almost caused some serious engine damage. Interesting thing is that I developed this oil leak and a coolant leak from the overflow reservoir all at the same time. SO my engine almost ran out of oil and coolant! Misery loves company.
Any suggestions? Thanks!

Sounds like your cover seal has gone bad. Yes, you can change the seal without pulling the timing cover. You'll still have to pull the bottom pully(s) and the vibration dampener. You'll then need to pry the old seal out and clean the seal area on the pan. Then, carefully tap the new seal into place.

If your dampener is grooved or showing wear where the seal contacts, you can buy a repair sleeve. No special tools are required and it is inexpensive (~$5.00). Be sure to use a little sealer around the new seal before you tap it into place.

Good Luck,
Roy

quote Originally posted by mrfixit58: Sounds like your cover seal has gone bad. Good Luck, Roy

That's great to know. I wasn't aware that the dampner/pulley - all in one -made any contact with the seal! I think the pulley is a bit too close to the timing cover the way it sits and maybe that's what caused the seal to go bad in the first place.
I will also have to remove the water pump in order to drop the rear of the cradle?
This is going to be fun. Not having to remove the timing cover is a relief tho.

I don't think that you will need to drop the cradle to replace the seal. Just remove the rear tire and the rubber/plastic skirt (if installed). That should expose the area you need to get to. Make sure you check out the balancer shaft for a groove as that may be the root of the problem. Don't forget to prelube the rubber area of the new seal, you don't want to burn it up at start up!

I don't have a V8 but I have a similar problem and so I would like to ask if anyone has ever had to remove a sleeve from the balancer shaft? I put a new seal in and it is leaking again after about 1 month. I did notice when I had it apart that the sleeve on the balancer shaft had some wear where it contacted the seal. Is it possible to get the sleeve off so that I can install a new one?

quote Originally posted by Indiana_resto_guy: I don't think that you will need to drop the cradle to !

Thanks. Your opinion does count for me and I am listening. When I removed the tire, I noticed that the bottom of the pulley is 1/2 way exposed, maybe a little mor than half.
But the frame rail is in the way of the pulley. I will need to look at it again but it seemed that I would have to drop the rear of the cradle to expose the whole area where the new seal goes in and have room to install it. I wish I had a digital camera.
If I don't need to drop the rear of the cradle it would make life so much easier.

quote Originally posted by William Federle: I don't have a V8 but I have a similar problem and so I would like to ask if anyone has ever had to remove a sleeve from the balancer shaft? I put a new seal in and it is leaking again after about 1 month. I did notice when I had it apart that the sleeve on the balancer shaft had some wear where it contacted the seal. Is it possible to get the sleeve off so that I can install a new one?

William,

The SBC V-8 balancer shaft does not originally have a sleeve. The seal just rides on the shaft's machined/polished surface. Once the shaft developes wear, the only cure is to either replace the balancer or buy a sleeve. If your saying that your balancer shaft already has a sleeve, then you could probably just peel it off and replace it. If no seal is available, your only recourse may be to replace the worn balancer with a new one.

Roy

If you can see half of it or better, once you remove the pully you will gain room. If adequate clearance cannot be obtained, just remove the rear bolts and jack the car up and it will swing down. If the V-8 you have in it has a dogbone(s) you should watch them or remove a bolt and swing it out of the way.

quote Originally posted by Indiana_resto_guy: just remove the rear bolts and jack the car up and it will swing down.

Clarify this part for me a little more...
so I jack the car up with the rear cradle bolts removed? I have an electric water pump somewhat inside the wheel well...can you clarify this procedure a bit more...? thx.

I'm not tooo sure of how much room your cradle has to swing on the top, so you need to pay attention to contact on top. Also watch the coolant lines for binding, the system may have to be drained and hoses either removed or disconnected at one end.

If your cradle mounts haven't been modified from stock, the front mounts will pivot. The rear of the car needs to be raised evenly and supported with jack stands. The using a hydrylic floor jack support the cradle and remove the rear bolts to the cradle. When this is done, lower the jack so the cradle may drop a few inches. Remember to pay attention for any binding from anything like wireing, coolant lines, oil lines (if automatic) and other engine componets. If binding is suspected, STOP and rectify the problem if you still haven't the room to work. It shouldn't take much for you to get the clearance necessary and is not nearly the work the it takes if removing the whole thing.