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Timing cover oil seal

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R

RETNJ

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Early '74 MGB with oil leaking from timing cover oil seal, so my next project is to replace the seal. I've read relevant pages in Haynes and it looks straight-forward - so that scares me, as nothing ever is.
Haynes does say to "lubricate the seal" but doesn't say with what. What?
Any cautionary notes or suggestions before I start pulling things apart?
 
Crank nut will be real tight,pulley may require the steering rack to be unbolted from the cross member and I lube the seal and surface it rides on with a smear of grease. You may find the tensioner is worn. For what they cost it would notbe a bad idea to have one handy. Bob
 
When I replace a seal, I coat the seal rubber and the shaft it slides on with engine assembly lube, makes no difference what brand. STP works great also, just a little gooey to work with. PJ
 
I put a dab of grease on the lips of the seal, lubricating until it lubricated is a good idea.

Also keep in mind the seal rides on the neck (if you will) of the front balancer, and just like the rear of the cranksahft the area where the sel can make a groove over time, if you see wear on the neck of the balancer, they make Speedy Sleeves for this application, Moss sells them.
 
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