ok i'm just about frustrated enough to sell the car... seriously. Hmel '742007-04-09 20:01:38

I'm sure you know, there shouldn't be enough pressure on the seal to make it leak. No new news there, eh?
Here's an idea/question. Do you have the oil "slinger" in front of the crank gear? That keeps the oil off of the seal, and helps keep it from developing a leak.
If all the pertinent parts are new(cover/seal, balancer) there's really no reason for it to leak at all, unless there is a problem with the seal itself, especially if it is leaking worse now than before. The gear drive will have no effect on leaking or not. You still should have the "slinger" on there, but, that not gonna stop a bad seal from leaking.
I have to assume that your crank is not bent on the very end, where the balancer goes?
The only other thing I can think of would be if the front main cap, or bearing, is loose, and it's just blowing oil directly on the seal. Even so, it wouldn't start leaking immediately...it would take a while.
Did you test fit the balancer into the seal before putting it all together? Maybe the cover just has a bad seal, or even the wrong one to fit your balancer.
Clean it off really well, and get it dry. Then have someone start it while you look at the seal from underneath, with a good bright light. See if it is leaking from the seal/balancer seal, or if it is leaking from around the outside of the seal, where it goes into the cover.
There's a solution to this problem...don't give up!!!

thanks for the reply.

Well, don't feel bad. Most people have never seen one...they are usually missing to start with.

HERE'S a page from the GM parts book that shows it(barely). It fits in front of the crank gear, and the balancer actually holds it on. It just keeps oil from spraying on the seal. It is just a round sheet metal part.
I think you probably got a bad seal on the cover, or it is just the wrong inside diameter for the balancer, if it's leaking that bad.


btw...the parts book lists it as "Oil Slinger", but...it also shows it as "Not Serviced", meaning, not available. I'll bet there are hundreds of them laying around in a box at any machine shop in town! They hardly ever get put back on...Adams' Apple2007-04-09 21:19:43

well actually you got thinking about the bent crank.  having to put it on with a hammer very well could have bent it. 

wouldn't it vibrate like crazy if it was bent even the slightest bit  ??

That's a sweet looking 74 to dis-own due to an oil leak!!  I hope that bird on the strafing run in the background didn't nail the Shark!!

The crank snout could be tweeked a bit, without making a hard vibration. I wasn't suggesting you did it by tapping on the balancer, tho. It may have already been a bit out of whack to start with. It's hard to see if it's just a bit out...
Anudder idea came to me while taking my nap...there are two different thicknesses of front(end) oil pan seals. The older engines(like ours!) used the thinner one, the later models used a thick one. Most timing covers you can buy these days take the thicker seal. This means the cover itself is made different in the seal area, to allow for the thicker end seal, which makes it possible to remove the timing cover without having to drop the oil pan.. IF you install the thin, original type end seal, with the later style, more readily available, thick type cover, you will have a pretty massive leak from there. Just thinking out load here. Are you sure the leak is from the timing/balancer seal, or could it possibly be from the front pan seal? I'm not implying that you don't know the difference, but it wouldn't be the first time that has happened.(don't ax how I would know that...)

Just throwing out possible scenarios...

btw..am this a big or small engine?Adams' Apple2007-04-10 05:02:31

thanks for the good words luke! 

joel,
good thought.  i covered that however and got an oil pan gasket with the thick front seal to match the cover and the new oil pan.  the leak is definitely coming from the seal.
i did not check the seal/balancer fit prior to install though.  i guess i can tear it apart and try it all over again but now i'm worried/convinced that the crank is bent from the dampener install/hammer session.

oh btw... small block 350

Naw...don't think that! I've "hammered" plenty of them on!!
If it IS bent, it most likely was already that way. I would be more apt to believe the seal itself is the dastardly culprit here.
It sux to have to tear back into it, tho. I know the feeling...all too well...

While you have the balancer back off, dis-connect the coil wire, and have someone spin the engine over, while you look at the crank snout. You might be surprised to see it wiggle a little. A little is ok, as the balancer will deal with the harmonics of that. Also, look at the rear of the cover seal...the garter spring may have sprung off of it, or may have been dis-lodged before you even got it.