I've got an 89 Firebird 305 TBI. I think my timing cover seal is leaking. The lower radiator hose, bottom of water pump, and side of power steering pump is covered in oil. I saw a little bit of oil slinging off the crank pulley. So, my guess is the timing cover seal.

As I did replace the harmonic balancer last year. And I tried to pry out the seal to replace it, but I could, but it didn't look like I damaged anything.

So, if it is the seal. Can you recommend a timing cover gasket kit? I see they have two difference kinds of Felpro, one with a sleeve and one without. And it looks like it is a two piece gasket.

Which one do I need? And it looks like that gasket kit has the timing cover seal with it?

If the shop has to take the cover off, I figure I'd go ahead and have the timing chain replaced since it has 170k miles. Any recommendations on a chain that I can pick up locally? I don't need anything that is performance. Just a good cheap chain. I do see they sell some that is the chain only, and some that already has the gears.

 

Is this a good timing chain for a stock 1989 305 TBI? The only other thing I can get locally is a $27 Cloyes.

GMPP: 12371043

 

cloyes makes good products. As far as the timing chain cover gasket I know mine in my 89 camaro was a 2 piece gasket. That is all I know but hopefully that will help. when you take the cover off you will be able to tell rather quickly but not sure if there is any way to tell with the cover on. You will have to loosen the oil pan to put the timing cover back on or it will leak again because the bottom seal has to go under the oil pan

 

I'm gonna have a local tech school do it.

This is the Cloyes timing set: C3064K



I'm thinking the GMPP would be a better timing set. I believe 89 had rollers? Plus you get new bolts. But I'd just like confirmation that the GMPP would work find with no mods. Or if I should just go to the Cloyes?

 

I think 87 up had roller cams/rockers. I am not very familiar with pontiac compared to Chevy but I am guessing they probably changed right along side each other. I would let someone that actually knows for a fact to chime in though just to be sure

 

Chevy manufactured all V8's post-81. FB and maro engine bays/engines are identical.

 

Is that Cloyes that I posted like the OEM unit? I'm guessing the bottom gear is nylon?

I had called the dealer, and the timing chain was $188. But I gave them the part number for the GMPP timing chain, and it was $55. Though, I'm only wanting something that will work like stock, bolt up with no mods, and something I can get locally. So, it looks like either that $30 Cloyes from a local auto parts store, or the $55 GMPP from the dealer.

I have heard that GMPP timing set is heavier than OEM. Don't know if that will cause any problems.

 

it wont cause a problem. If it's double roller though I'd check your timing cover clearance to be safe.

 

I believe both the Cloyes I posted and that GMPP are single roller.

I just know these things have timing marks on them and what not. And if I ordered the one from the dealer, I couldn't return it. I'm betting that Cloyes from the local auto parts store would work fine. Mine is just a stock engine, no mods.

And do you really need to soak the timing set in oil for 24 hours? What oil do you use?

 

To be honest with you I've never done that. If you want to though, I'd just use your normal motor oil.

 

my vato zone timing set was a reboxed cloyes single roller. Just FYI

 

Ok, they have that Cloyes chain. I guess it is that or the GMPP for $55.

 

What is the stock cam in an 89 305 TBI? Is it roller or flat tappet? I think I'd need to know that to help figure if I could use that GMPP timing set or not. As I believe your engine needs to have a roller cam to use that timing set.

 

Does anyone have any opinion on the Timken or Mr. Gasket timing cover seal that goes where the harmonic balancer is?

I just didn't know if one brand seal was better than the other? I do know the Felpro timing cover gasket set also comes with the seal. But it is the same price. So, it makes me wonder how good the seal is with the kit if it is the same price as a Timken or Mr. Gasket seal by itself.

 

Bump. Anyone know the correct timing cover seal? They list different ones at Autozone and Advance. I'm thinking of going with the Timken or I may get the Felpro timing cover gasket kit that comes with the seal. But I wonder how good the seal is in that kit since it is the same price as just a seal alone.

 

Bump. I've gotta buy this timing cover seal soon. Just needing to know which one to get.

Mr. Gasket:



Timken:

 

I bought the Fel-Pro kit last summer when I did a cam and heads swap on my son's 96 LT1. It came with all the replacement seals and gaskets.

Can't say about the two you're considering but I recommend Fel-Pro.

Jake

 

Yeah, I've seen that Felpro kit. The thing I wondered about is that kit is $8. It comes with a cover seal, cover gasket, and water pump gasket. Then the Timken and Mr. Gasket seal itself is around $8-$10.

So, I kinda question the quality of the seal in the Felpro kit since that entire kit is around the same price as a seal itself. So Felpro had to cheapen out on something in the kit.

 

Bump. I figured someone out there has replaced one of these seals.

 

I used the Fel-Pro kit which came with the seals and gaskets when I changed cams in my son's LT1 last summer. I used the same kit when I built my 388; no problem with either.

No 24 hour soaking (wonder where that came from anyway?); I just lubed the chain and gears using camshaft moly-lube. Oil can drain off over time, so I prefer lube to insure no dry start up. I use an old tooth brush in order to get into all the crevices.

Jake

 

I decided I'm just gonna replace the seal. I kinda wonder if it could be the harmonic balancer as I replaced that over a year ago. So maybe it could have been cheap and got a groove worn in it already. I think I got it at Damperdoc or something.

But anyways, I know of that Felpro kit. But the thing is that entire Felpro kit is $8 and it includes the seal. But if you buy a Timken or Mr. Gasket seal, that is $8 or so just for the seal.

So, I'm thinking the Felpro kit has cheap stuff in it as I don't see how a timing cover kit with seal could cost the same as the seal alone. I just don't want to do this again.

Felpro timing cover kit with seal. $8.39:



Timken seal. $8.99:



I think the Mr. Gasket seal is something like $10.

 

the felpro's a good set and you should have no issues installing it. if you've never done the seal before, make sure you get a piece of wood to spread out the force of the hammer strikes when you go to install it. if you just hit the seal directly with the hammer/mallet, you could distort the seal and have to start all over again (with a new one)

 

I'm gonna have someone else do it without removing the timing cover.

I'll probably go with the Timken seal as it should be better since it is the same price as the Felpro timing cover gasket kit that includes a seal. So something has to be cheaper in the Felpro kit for it to cost the same as the seal alone.

 

Any tips with the seal installation? A shop is gonna do it. But was wondering if the seal needs to be coated with a grease or oil? And I think I've read of people putting RTV around the outside of the metal base?

I hope the harmonic balancer is not scored since I had that replaced a couple of years ago.