LA Engine Lower Timing Gear and Seal Questions

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slant six

slant six

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Hi Guys,

I am Replacing the stock Old Timing Chain on my 318, Surprise...120,000 Miles and Lots of stretch and slop..

2 Questions..

1. Does the Lower Timing gear on the LA Engine Typically slide on pretty easy?
I have build many slant 6's and I always need a heavy duty Balancer puller and Gear puller to get those pieces off.
On the LA there is a crank Bolt to Hold all of that stuff on.. It just kind of surprised me how loose the fit was compared to what I am used to.


2. In the Timing Cover Gasket set, there is a Wool or felt piece.. (in the top of this picture) What is it for? I have not ever seen one before and was not sure where it belongs.
49294960791_040985f535_c.jpg



Thanks for the Help!

Greg
 
and yes the timing chain should slide off and on, without a puller Finger strength.
 
When I pulled my timing cover off that felt piece was on the inside of the timing cover. I don't think it really helps if the seal is leaking.
 
I am rebuilding another LA engine this winter.

Where do these 4 red round gasket rings go?
50777281401_b8c51d535b_c.jpg
20201227_222921 by Hyperpack, on Flickr

Thanks for your help!

Greg
 
It is a pain to get the timing cover back on with the oil pan still in place. You have to push it down to compress the cork oil pan gasket pieces. Practice some before you do it for real. Use some gasket adhesive to keep all the gaskets in place.
 
That felt disc goes just as shown in post number two. DO NOT put it on the inside! it can cause all kinds of trouble if pieces wound up in the oil pump.
 
What purpose is the felt washer doing between the damper and the front seal of the timing cover? The motor in my Duster was rebuilt and when the rebuilder assembled it put the felt washer inside timing cover. It made a little sense to reinstall it there to prevent any excess oil from hitting the oil seal. I know the slinger keeps the oil on timing chain and gear. The parts manual doesn't show that washer at all.
 
How come B engines and hemi's don't use it? I see your point but odd only on A engines have it. Wonder if it was a carry over from the poly motors and hemi's in the 50's.
 
tonysrt said:
How come B engines and hemi's don't use it? I see your point but odd only on A engines have it. Wonder if it was a carry over from the poly motors and hemi's in the 50's.
Click to expand...
It could be I don’t know. If the gasket kit came with it I used it. If not I didn’t go looking for one. This is the way I was taught. It’s worked for me for about 49 years of wrenching.
 
This is my first small block with that washer and I've done 3 RB's and never had that washer. Also did 2 265's in a 55 Chevy 56 years ago.
 
tonysrt said:
How come B engines and hemi's don't use it? I see your point but odd only on A engines have it. Wonder if it was a carry over from the poly motors and hemi's in the 50's.
Click to expand...
I dunno. The 350 I rebuilt earlier this year had the recess for the felt, of course 350's are kinda one off's.
 
Are you talking about the 58 350 B engine? I had one in a 58 Fury and had 150,000 miles and loved it with the 2 4 barrels. That car was great. Never had to work on motor. Raced many a 327 and beat them with over 100000 miles on it.
 
tonysrt said:
Are you talking about the 58 350 B engine? I had one in a 58 Fury and had 150,000 miles and loved it with the 2 4 barrels. That car was great. Never had to work on motor. Raced many a 327 and beat them with over 100000 miles on it.
Click to expand...
Yep. It went into a 58 desoto. This one was also dual quad. Hauled pretty good butt for such small cubes
 
Thanks guys.
Makes sense on the small round red rings on the full gasket set.

What's weird is the gasket set I have for the full rebuild does not have the felt ring that I used on my 318 timing chain replacement project last year.

And I don't think I would ever put the felt inside the timing cover. That just seems to be asking for trouble.
Both of these LA engines are truck based... so they don't have an oil slinger in them from the factory.

Greg
 
If it‘a a metal washer= inside.
Felt outside timing cover.
Metal washer to sling oil away from front seal during a panic stop. And all the oil sloshing forward.
Felt only important (to me)would be if I had a truck that was in the dirt, a lot, or a mud bogger truck.
 
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