Which gaskets do I need for cam swap
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 273
Likes: 1
From: Columbia Maryland
Which gaskets do I need for cam swap
The howto Im reading on doing a cam swap isnt clear on 1 thing: which gaskets I should order as replacements.
It looks like they replace the timing cover gasket with rtv, is there anything wrong with this? What other gaskets are even needed? Do you need a new front seal or can you re-use the old one?
It looks like they replace the timing cover gasket with rtv, is there anything wrong with this? What other gaskets are even needed? Do you need a new front seal or can you re-use the old one?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 4
From: Rockford Illinois
The howto Im reading on doing a cam swap isnt clear on 1 thing: which gaskets I should order as replacements.
It looks like they replace the timing cover gasket with rtv, is there anything wrong with this? What other gaskets are even needed? Do you need a new front seal or can you re-use the old one?
It looks like they replace the timing cover gasket with rtv, is there anything wrong with this? What other gaskets are even needed? Do you need a new front seal or can you re-use the old one?
The gasket on the timing cover is re usable, unless it is split. Look carefully at it. The front seal should be replaced. Otherwise you can go to your local parts store and they should either have the gaskets you need or they can order them. Otherwise the dealer will screw you.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 273
Likes: 1
From: Columbia Maryland
The gasket on the timing cover is re usable, unless it is split. Look carefully at it. The front seal should be replaced. Otherwise you can go to your local parts store and they should either have the gaskets you need or they can order them. Otherwise the dealer will screw you.
good to know. Looks like I can get the front seal for like 8 from the local parts place or 15ish from gene @ gm parts house.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Here's what I used:
Water pump gaskets
Timing cover
Front seal
Power steering line seals
Oil pump o-rings (three just in case)
Valve seals (if you are changing spring type)
Valve cover gaskets
On the valve seals, if you have the later seals and install double springs you will need the older style seals. The oil pump o-ring is required if you are changing the timing chain. I picked up extras since they are cheap and if you pinch one you are screwed until you get another one. The rest a lot of people re-use (not front seal) but I decided to replace so I didn't have to deal with the potential for leaks later. Valve covers are easy to get off again if they leak, but the timing cover would be a pain to get to so I would tend to replace.
Water pump gaskets
Timing cover
Front seal
Power steering line seals
Oil pump o-rings (three just in case)
Valve seals (if you are changing spring type)
Valve cover gaskets
On the valve seals, if you have the later seals and install double springs you will need the older style seals. The oil pump o-ring is required if you are changing the timing chain. I picked up extras since they are cheap and if you pinch one you are screwed until you get another one. The rest a lot of people re-use (not front seal) but I decided to replace so I didn't have to deal with the potential for leaks later. Valve covers are easy to get off again if they leak, but the timing cover would be a pain to get to so I would tend to replace.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 908
Likes: 4
From: TROY MI
Here's what I used:
Water pump gaskets
Timing cover
Front seal
Power steering line seals
Oil pump o-rings (three just in case)
Valve seals (if you are changing spring type)
Valve cover gaskets
On the valve seals, if you have the later seals and install double springs you will need the older style seals. The oil pump o-ring is required if you are changing the timing chain. I picked up extras since they are cheap and if you pinch one you are screwed until you get another one. The rest a lot of people re-use (not front seal) but I decided to replace so I didn't have to deal with the potential for leaks later. Valve covers are easy to get off again if they leak, but the timing cover would be a pain to get to so I would tend to replace.
Water pump gaskets
Timing cover
Front seal
Power steering line seals
Oil pump o-rings (three just in case)
Valve seals (if you are changing spring type)
Valve cover gaskets
On the valve seals, if you have the later seals and install double springs you will need the older style seals. The oil pump o-ring is required if you are changing the timing chain. I picked up extras since they are cheap and if you pinch one you are screwed until you get another one. The rest a lot of people re-use (not front seal) but I decided to replace so I didn't have to deal with the potential for leaks later. Valve covers are easy to get off again if they leak, but the timing cover would be a pain to get to so I would tend to replace.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
They changed in either 01 or 02. Not positive on the dates. The newer style has the spring seat integrated with the seal whereas the older style have the seal and the spring seat as two different parts.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,451
Likes: 2
From: East Peoria Illinois
i did mine and had low miles, so all i replaced was the waterpump gasket, and oil pump O ring. Front seal and timing cover was good. Theres no pressure ont eh timing cover, so if its in good shape, you are ok. Just put RTV on the bottom of it
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Just re-read your original post, you don't replace the timing cover with RTV but you use it to re-seal against the oil pan and in the corners. You still need a timing cover seal.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 273
Likes: 1
From: Columbia Maryland
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 681
Likes: 2
From: The Woodlands TX
I'm just thinking ... if you're going to all the cost and trouble to do a h/c job, why not pay the extra couple hundred bucks to get a complete gasket kit (front cover, valve covers, water pump, etc.)? It would really stink to get it all back together and running and find out you had a leaking gasket that required you to pull the steering rack, pulley, etc., to fix. I think Scoggins Dickey sells a complete kits that has everything you need (including a couple you really don't need, but what the heck).
