Frank500
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- Nov 12, 2021
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- Sydney
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- VT SS Commodore 5.0
Hi guys, my 304 is leaking coolant between the timing cover and the block, so I need to replace the gasket.
I was just wondering if anyone here has done this job, did you need to remove/lower the sump, or did you just leave it where it is and slide the timing cover off? I'm kinda worried that by doing that it may be inviting sealing issues down at the sump.
Any other tips and things to look out for would be appreciated, including the best way to lock up the crank for getting the balancer on and off. My car is an auto.
Also, what gasket sealer do you find works best?
Here's why I ask.
About 3 months ago I had to replace my water pump, and since I've been using Permatex Aviation Form-A-Gasket for quite a while and always found it to be very good, that's what I used on the gasket. When I fired up the engine however, it was leaking quite badly. What I found was that the gasket had been pushed out of position when I torqued down the pump.
I put this down to the fact that because I used a brand new bottle of sealant, it was very fresh and runny and I probably didn't allow it to tack off long enough, so it kind of acted like a lubricant and allowed the gasket to ooze out sideways. In the past I always just brushed it on and put everything together without waiting and it always sealed beautifully. Because the sealing face of the water pump gasket is quite skinny it is kind of prone to this happening a bit I guess.
So anyhow I repeated the job and this time waited for quite a while before bolting the pump on, so that the sealer was quite tacky. This time it assembled well, but there was still a little bit of movement of the gasket after torquing. Not enough to cause a leak but still not ideal. The pump bolts were not over-tightened.
Has anyone else had this issue with the Permatex? Or is there another gasket sealer that you've found to be better?
Thanks very much gentlemen.
I was just wondering if anyone here has done this job, did you need to remove/lower the sump, or did you just leave it where it is and slide the timing cover off? I'm kinda worried that by doing that it may be inviting sealing issues down at the sump.
Any other tips and things to look out for would be appreciated, including the best way to lock up the crank for getting the balancer on and off. My car is an auto.
Also, what gasket sealer do you find works best?
Here's why I ask.
About 3 months ago I had to replace my water pump, and since I've been using Permatex Aviation Form-A-Gasket for quite a while and always found it to be very good, that's what I used on the gasket. When I fired up the engine however, it was leaking quite badly. What I found was that the gasket had been pushed out of position when I torqued down the pump.
I put this down to the fact that because I used a brand new bottle of sealant, it was very fresh and runny and I probably didn't allow it to tack off long enough, so it kind of acted like a lubricant and allowed the gasket to ooze out sideways. In the past I always just brushed it on and put everything together without waiting and it always sealed beautifully. Because the sealing face of the water pump gasket is quite skinny it is kind of prone to this happening a bit I guess.
So anyhow I repeated the job and this time waited for quite a while before bolting the pump on, so that the sealer was quite tacky. This time it assembled well, but there was still a little bit of movement of the gasket after torquing. Not enough to cause a leak but still not ideal. The pump bolts were not over-tightened.
Has anyone else had this issue with the Permatex? Or is there another gasket sealer that you've found to be better?
Thanks very much gentlemen.
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