I'm hoping someone can help....I had some oil leaking and it looked like i needed a font seal. I took the damper off and it looks like it was cutting into the timing cover. I changed the seal, but I am really worried about the gash in the cover. I am hoping someone will know why this could happen? Why woould the dmper be that close to the cover and what should I do about it.

There are a couple of way to repair the cover. The best is to just replace it. Other than that you could clean it with brake parts cleaner and use an epoxy on the groove. Brake parts cleaner won't leave a residue the prevents the epoxy from adhearing. Carb cleaner does leave a residue.

As to why it happened may take a bit of detective work. The engine may have the wrong balance wheel. Looka and see if the belts are aligned, and everything is in the correct positon.

Or, the balancer could be comming apart. The outer edge is mounted on a rubber strip, which is on the inner piece. The rubber allows the heavy outer piece to absorbe vibration, hence balancer. If the rubber is rotting or shifting, the outer part of the balancer could be walking backward, and hitting the timing cover. Look at it closely and you will be able to see if the outer weight is moving position. Compare the front to the rear. They should be even. I'm guessing they are not.

Thanks ken for the quick reply,
The damper looked like it was one peice of solid steel or iron, with no rubber on it, I used a repair sleeve to fix the groove that was in it. I'm not sure if it is the original or not. Now I am thinking that I should get a new damper, timing cover, and maybe a gear drive. Have you heard of any problems with gear drives or is that a good swap for the tired chain in there?

Would anyone happen to know the size of the balancer on my 80 L48 motor? I was pricing them, I found SB-Chevy 6-3/4" , or SB-Chevy 8" the pricing looks ok, about $60. Just not sure which one to order.

vmikalinis said: Have you heard of any problems with gear drives or is that a good swap for the tired chain in there?

they are loud... even the quiet ones are loud.. the ones that make no attempt at noise suppression are very very loud..

The gear drives are loud. If you like screaming whines, go ahead. Get in a econo car with a stick shift, drop it in reverse, and wind it up. That whining noise is similer to what your engine will sound like all the time.

If you used a sleeve to fix the groove, it must have been a groove in the balance wheel where the seal rides. A sleeve is a good repair for this. I thought you said in the cover. That would be the timing cover behind the balancer, and that would be another problem, such as a balancer comming apart.

Yes it does have rubber. It's thin, and if you look at the front of the balancer without the pullies, you can see what appears to be a ring around the balancer, part way between the center and outer edge. This thin area is the rubber. All balancers have them, or they don't dampen vibration.

ok, got it, that means that my balancer must be toast....It had kind of a domed look to it. but I didn't think about it at the time. So I need chain, cover, seal, balancer. Took it apart once second time will be faster.

vmikalinis said: ok, got it, that means that my balancer must be toast....It had kind of a domed look to it. but I didn't think about it at the time. So I need chain, cover, seal, balancer. Took it apart once second time will be faster.

if your getting a new chain... get a double chain..

and be sure to inspect your gears for wear..

Lets all hope its the dampner and not a worn thrust bearing, that would allow the crank to walk fore and aft,having any clutch or trans problems?

|UPDATED|6/11/2004 7:45:07 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

ok parts are on order, I don't think it would be anything serious as the motor runs very well and has been taken care of. I don't know if I have ever gone above 4000 rpm while I was driving.