5.0L front seal - looking for part

[rizzjc]

Fan is off. For anyone reading I would *not* suggest trying to remove the pulley by removing the bolts. All it does is remove the pulley cover, and then after you drop the bolts about 100 times, you have to tighten them back up .... and FINALLY find an place with the loaner tool. Thanks to the little old lady at PepBoys, I have a set of every fan clutch wrenche a person could ever want, for 10 days.

For posterity, here is how I finally got the screws loose on the pulley ... only to have to put them back on. Strap wrench on the pulley, 13mm wratcheting wrench on the bolts, and bars on both:

Well, I thought I was good to go once the fan was off. Not so much. The strap wrench just bends when I try to hold the harmonic balancer with it. Off to Sears tomorrow to get a metal strap wrench, unless someone has a better idea. I ended up pulling off the lower pulley, and the tensioner to I had more room to work, and that will help, if I can get a strap wrench that doesn't just bend like rubber.

 

[rizzjc]

Success!

Finally got the harmonic balancer bolt out, after $15 at Sears for a metal strap wrench. After fighting for a while, I got the seal out. Cleaning up all the "gunk" now, and hopefully FINALLY get it back on the road by the weekend. Hoping the seal is the only problem and nothing else down there is leaking.

 

[rizzjc]

Question: Anybody know if the oil pan gasket is actually in two pieces? In other words, if I were to take off the front cover, what would I have to replace for the gasket? Is there a separate gasket for the front cover and the oil pan? I'm trying to look at 410's photos to see what's going on. I'm just think if that is easy, then maybe I do that too, while I'm in there. I just want to know what I'm getting into before I dig into it.

 

[410Fortune]

If I remeber properly when I pulled the front cover there is indeed a oil pan to front cover gasket that is seperate from the main oil pan gasket.

 

[rizzjc]

OK, thanks. I might go look at a cover and gasket set at the auto store just to make sure I understand EXACTLY what's involved. And, what's your opinion? Replace the timing chain, or no? It would be a "since I'm in there" sorta thing. And, if so, is it a big deal once the cover is off, or pretty simple, no special tools or settings? If it's like replacing a bike chain, I'll do it. If not, then I probably won't mess with it. Also, did you just use RTV when you put the harmonic pulley back on (they call for some special Ford goo in the little channel on the shaft).

Thanks for the help. I'm learning more every day digging into this thing. I'm a visual learner.

 

[rizzjc]

If I remeber properly when I pulled the front cover there is indeed a oil pan to front cover gasket that is seperate from the main oil pan gasket.

This is what is in the kit that I picked up, but they said that there is a one-piece old pan gasket too, and you don't know what you've got until you take it apart. Hopefully I don't screw it up and create leaks for myself. The replacement gasket for the bottom, at the oil pan, is rubber. The kit also came with the front seal, and a pile of other gaskets (most paper, a couple cork). I guess I'll only need one or two out of the box.

Wish me luck!