Rope seal install

[bluesbrother30]

It was suggested to me today that prior to installing the rope seals in my motor they should be soaked in oil overnight. Comments??

Mike Summers

[bitsobrits]

Mike,

For what it's worth, I learned from an old hot rodder who built mostly leak free flatheads that you soak the seal overnight, lightly roll it into position (he used a big steel bar section- about 2" diameter), then trim the ends leaving them standing proud "by five fine red ones" or about 1/32". Personally I used this method only once, on an old Chevy 6 cylinder, and it remained leak free at least until I sold it.

Now I have no idea if the current seal material is the same, and further, I have converted the two rope seal twin cams I have to 6 bolt cranks and lipseal rear cover, so what do I know!

[SJ Lambert]

Dang it - I installed a rope seal by soaking & rolling it in and was able to turn the motor over by hand at the flywheel before installing into the car - now I can?t get it to turn over with it in top gear/ plugs out when I try to rotate a rear wheel that I?ve jacked up off the ground.......

[SJ Lambert]

A gentle wheels on the ground / plugs out / top gear engaged push has freed it up (along with loosening the left hand rear pan bolt to relieve a bit of pressure)!

I can now turn it over in gear with a wheel in the air.