Engine and Transmission Tech

I have an Olds 215 that I put in an MGA some years back, and I’m wondering if I have the right seal (if any) at the outer surface of the timing cover. There seems to be a seal about 1.3 inches deep in the cover, and the harmonic balancer slides in as expected, but there’s a gap between the outside diameter of the balancer shaft and the inside diameter in the opening of the timer cover. Is that normal, or am I missing an outer seal?
Thanks
Doug

Balancer shaft? I am assuming you are referring to the end of the crankshaft, also known as the crankshaft nose or snout.

It's normal. The harmonic balancer will slide into that gap.

Thanks Carl. By “balancer shaft” I meant the part of the harmonic balancer that slides onto the crank shaft. It fills most of the space between itself and the timing cover opening it passes through. With the balancer installed, there is a small gap at the timing cover opening. Seems like dirt could get in there.

Well... if you have enough oil leaking out, it'll keep dirt from coming in! I'm sorry... just couldn't resist.

The original Olds and Buick 215 timing covers just had a "rope seal" at the nose of the crankshaft. You may have used an aftermarket kit to install a neoprene crankshaft seal instead? Personally, I preferred to install a new Buick V6 timing cover because they feature a factory-installed neoprene seal, plus completely unworn oil pump surfaces. However, the V6 cover is a little inconvenient to use because it doesn't have timing marks where the V8 covers do. (To workaround this, I fashioned my own pointer, and I use a dial-back timing light to get measurements in degrees.) Like the V8 cover, the V6 cover doesn't have an outer seal at the harmonic balancer.

You should have a seal fitted to the cover, be it a rope type or modern 1-piece neoprene seal. Otherwise you will have a major oil leak. The seal is fitted from inside of the cover in photo and there is only one seal. If you have a seal further in, it is loose and supposed to be fitted to the cover.

Curtis - thanks for the yuks. I asked for it

The timing cover was installed by the guy who rebuilt the motor, and it didn’t seem right when I was fitting the balancer. I’ll pull the cover and install the seal. I think it’s a felpro 15200. Will need. A new timing cover gasket too. This one is gooped.

Thanks all for your input

Also the 350 timing cover will work and TA makes new timing covers which have the seal installed from the outside.

Jim

"The original Olds and Buick 215 timing covers just had a "rope seal" at the nose of the crankshaft. You may have used an aftermarket kit to install a neoprene crankshaft seal instead?"

No kit needed. If the correct crank seal is used, it will press right in place of the rope seal from the back side. That is what I did 20 years ago.

That is what you are missing, Doug. Sorry I didn't quite get what you were asking.

As I recall, I used RV8/TR8 front seal ? Didn't 215's just have a groove to wedge the rope into ? I think I'd machine to fit a real seal. Art.

Art, there was a stamped steel retainer pressed and staked in from the back side. Once that is removed a V6 seal fits in the original recess.

Jim