Quote:
Originally Posted by lust4speed
Hey wait a minute. They only brought out this new seal a year ago.  That's okay, in my 44 years of messing with Pontiac's I never had a rear seal tear apart either - until now.
I'm thinking that while the older organic rope based seal would burnish in and work, this new space age material does melt if the tension is pushed too high. I had lubed it up good, and this is probably why it made it through the engine break-in and several additional runs while I sorted things out. Assembly lube must have finally dissipated enough and the fun began. I use a short section of round stock with a 3-1/4" outside diameter to shape the seal. I always torque the rear main with the seal in place - then remove it and apply the thin silicone bead before torquing things back to spec. Nothing out of the ordinary was noticed.
Best only include one rope seal pair in the package, and at least the package was marked correctly. I believe that I would have recognized the fatter 400 rope if it had been mis-packaged. Regardless, I guess it's time to start unbolting everything and get the engine pulled out.
Question: With the mains pulled but the timing chain still on, is it possible to lift the rear of the crank far enough away with the rods still attached to fill the anti-rotation holes and install a BOP seal? Never had reason to try it before, and just trying to get around popping out all the pistons. |
Sorry for your issues, truly.
With 44 years of Pontiac experience the issue has to be with the seal except Now you are asking can you lift the crank up enough with the rods attached and the timing cover on to install a BOB seal. That sounds like a 'rookie" question if I ever heard one and I know you are not a "Rookie"
TAKE THE ENGINE APART. CLEAN THE CRAP OUT OF THE ENGINE. ROPE SEAL WENT OUT ROPE SEAL WENT IN. INSPECT EVERYTHING, TAKE THE PUMP OIL APART. INSPECT EVERYTHING.
You will be much happier as will the engine knowing that you do not have other issues awaiting around the corner.
Fitting a BOP seal is not easy to do right. You need to inspect the block and make sure that the centerline of the crank is in the center of the block bore for the bop seal to work properly.
I know that you are frustrated. It happens to all of us. Take a few deep breaths and then work your way out of the hole vs try and take shortcuts.
I guarantee later you will be a lot happier.
Tom Vaught