Replacement Timing Chain Cover

I’m reassembling my oil pump with a new thrust plate. I believe I have an everything in the correct order, but I’d love some confirmation on the gaskets….

Also, I didn’t use any type of RTV, sealant, or dressing on any of the gaskets or surfaces. And I used the original relief spring.

Starting with the oil pump housing (upside down in this picture), I have the “full” gasket:



After that, I have the thrust plate:



Then I have the “open” gasket, which will face the gears:



And of course, I packed the gears with petroleum jelly:




All good?

 

I like to use a little Indian Head/GASGACINCH on the gaskets after the correct pump clearance is determined while using the
gaskets dry. I am not sure if you purchased the TA gasket set which allows you to make changes using a different thickness of
gasket on the pump. Pump clearance is critical to achieving the correct pressure and wearing of the pump. It looks like some
dressing has been done to the plate.

 

Did you check the final clearance of the ends of the gears to the bottom plate? Too tight will wear the plate and score the gears, too loose will not build proper pressure and output volume. This is really important. You should have had several very thin “open” gaskets it set a .002-.003. I usually dry assemble everything (bolts snugged close to final torque) with Plastigauge on the bottom of a gear to check the actual clearance.
-Donny

 

Maybe I’m an idiot, but I didn’t check the end play on the gears. I thought with a new timing cover, and the thrust plate, everything would be in spec?

Sounds like I need to disassemble and check it.
Yes - the TA kit came with multiple gaskets to set the end play.

Thanks guys!

 

Maybe you could show a picture of the wear on the inside of the pump housing with the gears and jelly out?

Sorry forgot that it has a new pump housing. The picture through me off.

 

Yes - it’s a new timing chain cover, new gears, and a new thrust plate. Original pump cover.

 

Just to put a bow on all this, in case anyone in the future reads this thread…

I did plastigauge the gears, to be sure everything was within spec. It was at .002 with just the standard gasket.

I assembled everything with dry gaskets, except I used a very small amount of Right Stuff around the water pump outlets on the timing cover gasket. I was very pleasantly surprised that I didn’t have ANY leaks.

I used an old screw driver in a drill to prime the oil pump - it worked perfectly.

The distributor hold-down on the TA Performance timing cover is sooooo much better than the original. It’s a little harder to get to, but it sits flush and locks down more positively. Very nice.

So glad to have this project finished, and the engine running again.

Thanks for all the help and advice!