Question - C59A Crank Rope Seal Installation

[Ziggster]

Looking for advice on what I should do with my role seal. It’s from Felpro engine gasket kit and it is the white type which I think is Teflon impregnated. The machine shop already installed the upper section at the rear, and I just installed the front upper in the timing cover. There were not instructions and height gage in the Felpro kit. I did find some Felpro instructions on-line and it mentions not to cut the seal and not to soak it in oil. So, when I installed the seal in the timing cover, I did so as per those instructions, but it seems to be sticking out quite a bit. At least slightly more than the thickness of the cork oil pan gasket supplied in the gasket kit. I’m about to install the oil pan, so I just want to make sure that this is correct, meaning no cutting/trimming of the rope seal and no soaking of oil.

[Ziggster]

I should clarify that the Felpro instructions just say to cut the seal flush with the bearing cap, and a few posts I read on here say not to cut the seal.

[Ziggster]

A couple posts from here.

[Ziggster]

Called Felpro today. See response in I posted on the HAMB.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...ation.1290261/

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Ziggster

Called Felpro today. See response in I posted on the HAMB.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...ation.1290261/

[Bored&Stroked]

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One thing to note on the rope seal and soaking it. The example in the Fel-Pro instructions picture is a rope seal that is impregnated with graphite - so it does not need to be soaked and soaking can leach away some of the graphite. In some of the Best Garket kits I've seen, at least the rear is graphite impregnated - so soaking is not needed. Usually, I use a one-piece front seal - thought you may or may not have one.

Now, these types of graphite impregnated seals are not the older tougher than Hell "white ones" that we've all been using for years. The older/traditional white ones SHOULD be soaked in oil - or you risk burning up the seal when you start the engine without lubrication on it. (The graphite lubricates the other ones).

Hope this helps,
B&S

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

One thing to note on the rope seal and soaking it. The example in the picture is a rope seal that is impregnated with graphite - so it does not need to be soaked and soaking can leach away some of the graphite. In some of the Best Garket kits I've seen, at least the rear is graphite impregnated - so soaking is not needed. Usually, I use a one-piece front seal - thought you may or may not have one.

Now, these types of graphite impregnated seals are not the older tougher than Hell "white ones" that we've all been using for years. The older/traditional white ones SHOULD be soaked in oil - or you risk burning up the seal when you start the engine without lubrication on it. (The graphite lubricates the other ones).

Hope this helps,
B&S

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by petehoovie

Was referring to the instructions from Fel-Pro and some of the comments I've heard to not oil the rope seals. The answer is "it depends"! LOL

[Ronnieroadster]

Here's how I do it and so far has worked perfectly every time. First I never trim the rope front seal I leave it the length it is. After soaking in some oil I install the rope into the front cover first. Next I use a round object {usually the a rachet extension} to push and roll at the same time the seal into the front cover. I repeat these steps on the oil pan front seal as well. Once again I never trim the front seals I leave both standing proud.

Now I install the front cover once the cover is bolted in place I now trim the oil pan gasket at the locations of the front and rear seals so that they sit around the rope seals. Now just before putting the oil pan on I place a small amount of silicone sealer {Permatex brand Gray} around the outer edges of each seal. Once the pan is bolted down the silicone sealer will fill the areas around the seal edges so there's no leak.
Ronnieroadster

[cadillac512]

Originally Posted by Ronnieroadster

Here's how I do it and so far has worked perfectly every time. First I never trim the rope front seal I leave it the length it is. After soaking in some oil I install the rope into the front cover first. Next I use a round object {usually the a rachet extension} to push and roll at the same time the seal into the front cover. I repeat these steps on the oil pan front seal as well. Once again I never trim the front seals I leave both standing proud.

Now I install the front cover once the cover is bolted in place I now trim the oil pan gasket at the locations of the front and rear seals so that they sit around the rope seals. Now just before putting the oil pan on I place a small amount of silicone sealer {Permatex brand Gray} around the outer edges of each seal. Once the pan is bolted down the silicone sealer will fill the areas around the seal edges so there's no leak.
Ronnieroadster

This ^^^^^^^ makes perfect sense. It'll work well.



Terry