Depth of timing cover crankshaft seal

[Mitchs07explorer]

Hi all,
I’m done installing my heads and timing my 4.0 engine. I replaced the the timing cover crankshaft seal with a new fel pro seal. The original seal was probably seated about a 1/3 of the way in. When I installed the new seal I think I ended up about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way down the tube on the timing cover. It’s straight and looks seated properly it’s just further down than where the original was set. So now I’m having doubts and I’m wondering if anyone can tell me if the seal being that far in the timing cover is going to cause me any leaks. I don’t see why it would leak but I’ve also never gone this far into an engine before and the ford factory placed the seal where it did for a reason. Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on this for me. At least I can get to it with the engine in the car if I need to but as the engine is out right now it’d be the easiest to deal with now. I just don’t want to pull that timing cover off if I don’t have too and possibly have to buy another timing cover seal.

 

[410Fortune]

Do you have a picture? The front main seal should be installed flush to the housing
Changing its location on the crankshaft can actually be a good thing if the old seal wore a groove on the crankshaft

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

Do you have a picture? The front main seal should be installed flush to the housing
Changing its location on the crankshaft can actually be a good thing if the old seal wore a groove on the crankshaft

I don’t have a picture, I’ll take one this weekend but it’s definitely closer to the other end. If I take the cover off I can just tap the seal forward can’t I?

 

[Bazz270]

Should be flush with the cover surface

 

[donalds]

I took off the dust cover off the harmonic balancer and used it to push it in

what Kind of seal are you using

I used a fellpro and when I did Mine i made it flush it rubbed on the harmonic balancer dust seal

 

[410Fortune]

The felpro seal should be pressed in with a seal driver (or similar) and it should be seated flush to the timing cover

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

I took off the dust cover off the harmonic balancer and used it to push it in

what Kind of seal are you using

I used a fellpro and when I did make it flush it rubbed on the harmonic balancer dust seal

I also used a fel-pro seal and if I mounted it flush it would also rub against the plastic dust cover. I know it wasn’t flush when I knocked it out of the cover. The video I’ve been using post by Platinum garage, he pushes the seal at least a 1/2 inch in it seems.

 

[donalds]

I also used a fel-pro seal and if I mounted it flush it would also rub against the plastic dust cover. I know it wasn’t flush when I knocked it out of the cover. The video I’ve been using post by Platinum garage, he pushes the seal at least a 1/2 inch in it seems.

Just use the dust cover itself to install the seal
Its perfect depth
Then put your dust cover back on the harmonic balancer
This will leave a perfect gap

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

Ummmm the seal goes into the timing cover from the front
It sounds like you pressed it in from the backside of the cover?

I pressed it in from the front

 

[410Fortune]

I realized that after I re read! You are too fast for my editing! Hahahahaha

Make sure you lube the crank damper before you press it into the seal using the bolt
I use Vaseline but motor oil can also work

Never install a seal dry

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

I realized that after I re read! You are too fast for my editing! Hahahahaha

Make sure you lube the crank damper before you press it into the seal using the bolt
I use Vaseline but motor oil can also work

Never install a seal dry

Damn I pressed the seal in dry so it sounds like I should pull the cover and redo it. Do you think I should replace either seal or am I good to reuse both? As far as lubing the seal do I want to lube the inside and outside?