Front Seals - Gaskets?

[courtenay]

I was going to replace the oil seals on the crankshafts and camshaft when I replace my timing belt. Do I need any gaskets when I do this? Never done any of this stuff before...

[So Cal Mark]

you would only need gaskets if you remove the seal housings on the aux shaft and crankshaft

[courtenay]

Thanks, Mark. Will I need to remove the housings to get the oil seals out?

[So Cal Mark]

you don't have to remove the seal housings

[wachuko]

you don't have to remove the seal housings

+1

In my case I did remove them just for ease of cleaning. Since I had ordered a complete engine gasket set I had all the gaskets and seals handy.

A few photos to help you in your task.

Removed the cover to the crankshaft to replace gasket and seal, and to clean the cover... much better now:



The same goes for the aux shaft cover... clean as you go my dad still says, clean as you go...









Aux Shaft cover installed:



Crankshaft cover installed:

[courtenay]

Great pics, Jamie!! Very helpful. My engine is pretty clean, so I don't think I need to remove the covers. How do you get the seals out? Just pry them, or is there some other technique?

[SLOSpider]

If your going to be doing the seals its easier if you remove the covers. You could possible just use gasket sealer and be ok but I like gaskets thats why I just ordered a full set for $60.00 as you will need them all one day. You also need 4 seals with the crank being a bit larger than the other three. The hardest part for me was waiting a week while the Kroil oil did its magic on the rusted front crank nut. However if I had a little heat and a bit more effort I could of had it off in no time.

Also if you are careful about the lower crank cover you might be able to save the front section on the oil pan gasket and just reseal when you put it back on. Pics of mine from last night:






covers removed and shafts cleaned and polished up.



I use a small amount of sealant on both sides of the gasket and around the outer edge of the seal itself. Clean up the shafts and feel for rough spots. Using some emery cloth around them will get rid of any high spots or build up. Last you should put some grease on the seal lip and shaft so its lubed until the oil get up there.

Covers cleaned, painted and back on:

[SLOSpider]

Great pics, Jamie!! Very helpful. My engine is pretty clean, so I don't think I need to remove the covers. How do you get the seals out? Just pry them, or is there some other technique?

The easiest way I found is take a medium screwdriver with a smaller tip and tap it into the seal metal part side ways away from the shaft. Once you have it tapped in at an angle you can then easily pry it out.

[courtenay]

More great pics! A hearty thanks to the folks who document these procedures with their cameras. It's a huge help to us mechno idiots who are new to this stuff. Much appreciated!!

[wachuko]

Great pics, Jamie!! Very helpful. My engine is pretty clean, so I don't think I need to remove the covers. How do you get the seals out? Just pry them, or is there some other technique?

I usually use this tool, it is call a seal puller:



But in this case, since I took out the whole cover I am not sure it it works on a FIAT... someone else might chime in.

[djchan]

To take out seals I drill a small hole, screw in a sheet metal screw and use a claw hammer and pull it out like a nail.
If you're not taking off the crank seal cover I would order a couple of extra crank seals. It took me 3 trys before I got it right. The first 2 kept on catching the lip on the crankshaft and leaked oil. Finally I had to stick my head, with reading glasses on, down to crankshaft level, and with a dental pick made sure it wasn't catching on the lip before driving it to seat with the gear.

[SLOSpider]

Now that you show that seal puller I think I have one of those in the tool box somewhere. They work better when you have a nice open hole though and the screwdriver punched an easy hole in the metal portion for me to pop her out.

[CShroom]

We pulled the covers on our motor.

I found the easiest way when they are off is to suspend the cover on the fronside between two 2X4's and smack with a drift punch a couple of times. Not hard, but hard enough to make it move.

The same 2X4's come in handy to support it from the back to get the seal back in also.