273 Coolant leak help

4spdragtop said

Thanks TB. When facing engine it was leaking at approx 2 oclock, right beside coolant hole. Looks a little rusty on timing cover. I'll sandblast the cover, wire wheel the engine and RTV. Well see how it looks after sandblasting.
I'll check wreckers for drip tab. What year engine for drip tab?

Thanks!

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Yep, that's obvious alright. LOL
Pretty much any year small block would have a drip tab (or not):D
Let's say pretty much any small block could have one, and as far as the cover I have seen a lot worse than that be just fine when redone.

RedFish said

The crank shaft seal allows very little upward movement of the timing cover. So getting onto the pan lip aint easy. I have used a couple of long drifts through bolt holes to lift the timing cover, and made it happen but... I risk damaging the shaft seal when doing that. Hell of a lot easier with GMs little sheet metal cover.
Gamble, get lucky, pat yourself on the back, versus start over.

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Good point, and I also use something to help press the cover down (Two big flat blade screwdrivers) in the two very top bolt holes.
I get them started in the bolt holes flat then turn them where the blade is vertical and it pulls the cover down into place.
Sometimes even pulling down on the handles once the screwdrivers are in there helps, and then I like to get two of the lower cover bolts in it snug to hold it in place while I assemble the water pump and brackets. (and obviously the two pan bolts that were removed.)
Since the balancer isn't on yet when the cover goes on there is a little playing room for the seal, with a bit of caution.
A little sealer or even just oil on the pan seal surface of the rounded bottom of the timing cover helps let the cover slide down into place also.