Front seals

[BrdWAtti2d]

If anyone has experience with this I'd be much obliged if you would share your knowledge.

I have a few questions about the front seals on an LT1. I'll be replacing my opti in a couple days and I want to replace the front seals while I'm at it and checking the timing chain and gears for wear. I've found a gasket set that comes with the timing cover gasket and the 3 seals.

#1 Are there any other seals that should be replaced while I have the front end apart besides the obvious?

#2 The timing cover gasket is like a U shape. What the heck keeps the oil from leaking in the gap in the U?

#3 How big a pain is it to remove the crank pulley and hub? Can I use a conventional gear puller or is this one of those "special GM tool" jobs? Or does it require a puller at all?

#4 Any one know, or know where I can find the torque specs for the pulley and hub bolts?

#5 Is the CPS reluctor and crank gear held in place by the hub so that I should be concerned with their position before removing the hub?

Every time I work on this car there seems to be a "surprise" that pops up. Job time 2 hours, surprise time 3 days. I hate surprises. I'd like to be prepared for this one.

[Joe 1320]

For the front cover oil seals:

http://www.f-body.com/forum/showthre...ptispark+seals

the timing cover gasket won't leak when it's torqued into place.

the crank pulley/damper comes off easily. It's the hub that is still left on the crank snout that can be a PITA to remove. Yes, you'll need a puller. specifically a steering wheel puller of all things. It happens to be the right configuration to work. The hub doesn't interfere with anything so it will come off without other sensors being in the way. You will need to rotate the crank so that the Y shaped hub clears the optispark if that unit has not been already removed.

[BrdWAtti2d]

I kind of figured that hub might be a pita but it sounds like I have everything I need. Wait, maybe a case of beer? I've already done a water pump install so that's old news. (Of course I have the opti's bad right? Funny you always find out this stuff AFTER the car is back together.) Thanks for the info Joe.

[BrdWAtti2d]

Ok I think I've found the "suprise" factor. In researching the gasket and seal set I noticed in find print that I will also need an oil pan gasket. I assume since they say I'll need this part that I'll have to drop the oil pan and replace that gasket? It appears from the diagrams on shbox.com that the lower portion of the timing cover mates up to the front portion of the oil pan. Is this correct? Or is it possible to remove the timing cover without destroying the pan gasket? Sounds ify at best since the whole process is to prevent future leaks. A little help please?