Has anyone experienced this ?
When I drive the new NOS seal into the new GM timing chain cover, the seal appears to seat well, but then I can easily remove it. In fact it basically falls out. I've driven it fairly deep, almost to the point that the back side of seal is flush with the back side of the cover.

I noticed the receiver hole in the timing cover is slightly tapered. Perhaps this is normal...I don't know.

I'm tempted to use Right Stuff to "glue it" in place and then add a bit of a fillet bead of sealant on the outside edge of the seal-to-cover interface.

But that doesn't inspire a helluva lot of confidence....even half-arsed in my opinion.

Anyone have similar experience and words of wisdom.

Thanks
Adrian

 

I've not seen that before. I'd try to tighten up the hole in that cover with a piece of pipe as a dolly, and a few raps with a hammer on the back side after placing the cover in a vise.

I like to use this on seals, casting plugs and other things. https://www.permatex.com/products/ga.../?locale=en_us

Last resort, I might stake the seal with a chisel after installation, but I'm not sure the shell of the seal can take that abuse. Regardless, it needs a press fit, and shouldn't fall out,

 

Try a Fel Pro seal and see what happens. As much as I try to use NOS GM parts when possible, one thing I will not use is NOS gaskets and seals. They are 40 years old and usually dried up pretty badly.

Do you have an old timing cover you can measure to see if the hole is the right size ? I have one from a 425 I can measure for you if you need.

 

Where’d you get the timing cover from? I got one from Rocket Racing a few years ago and had to send it back for the same reason. The cover was the issue, not the seal.
Do what Bill said, measure an old one if you have it. Otherwise you may want to get a cover from Inline tube, Never had an issues with theirs.

 

Yep, pretty sure the new timing cover was the problem.

This morning I was able to properly seat that same seal into my old timing cover.

I’ll get a new cover.

Lesson 42: Before converting a timing cover into a 2-piece cover…test fit a dang seal.

thanks guys

 

If you want to, buy a tube of Loktite bearing and stud mount. (Loktite Green) It will take up the oversize in the cover and hold the seal forever.

 

I just ran into this same issue with my 307. The seal I pulled out was an aftermarket seal as well. Both the old one and the new one I bought slides right in and out of the cover. I'm wondering if the cover is the issue. grannys442 where did you find a new cover?

 

Bah. If the NOS seals and gaskets are kept dry and in a humidity controlled environment, I've had no problems using them. I rebuilt an entire stock 455 with an NOS engine gasket set in the sealed GM package and had no issues. I used everything in the kit, NOS turkey tray, water pump gaskets, distributor o-rings, oil pan gaskets... balancer seals. The only parts I was the least bit concerned with was the umbrella valve seals. But I went with them anyway. No problemo.

I get it. If in doubt, throw it out. But don't automatically assume NOS gaskets are trash just because they're old.

 

I believe my problem was the new GM-brand timing cover had slightly too much taper in the hole. I ended using some Right Stuff sealant as a “bedding” sealant while pressing the seal in. Sort of as experiment to see if the Right Stuff could function as an adhesive between the seal and the cover. I had low expectations while it cured overnight.

In fact I has such low expectations, i had already decided to gett a new cover and seal and starti over.

So the next morning for fun i decided to see how well the seal with Right Stuff was secured into the cover. When i couldn’t knock it out of its seat…even with moderately strong force, then decided i would go ahead and use it. As an added measure, i used a punch to stake it in place. I staked it in about 8 spots around its perimeter. Fingers crossed but fairly confident about it.