Re: Oil leak timing cover 3.0
Got the parts in the mail and got the old cover off which had numerous pin holes in it where it rusted through. After I loosened up all the bolts on the cover before pulling it off the motor I cut the oil pan gasket flush with each side of the block. Oil pan was fine with no rust on it. I put the new timing cover and water pump on. I put a bead of The Right Stuff RTV on the front rail of the oil pan and set the timing cover on. I have cut the oil pan gasket numerous times in the same fashion with cars and never had a problem with RTV when the timing cover gasket kit didn't include the partial gasket. I ran it for 10 min and no leaks. Worst part of the job was reinstalling the harmonic balancer. My crank didn't have any threads in the crank snout, my deadblow hammer did the trick after I heated the pulley up in the oven.
I would do this job the same fashion again without pulling the motor. I myself would tell anyone with room to work to do the same as I did with cutting the oil pan gasket flush with the block before tugging on the old cover. If your oil pan gasket is bad from the get go them you have no choice but to pull the motor. My oil pan gasket was rubber, and my personal experience with rubber oil pan gaskets is they rarely ever fail. I usually keep a can of The Right Stuff, it's the best RTV that I have used and I've been on the same can for about 2 years so, no I don't go crazy with the stuff
I got the timing cover, water pump and gaskets from E Basic Power in NC. Best prices I found for quality pieces. They shipped the timing cover bare metal, I hit it with a coat of black engine enamel paint the night before I installed it.
