engine front plate/timing cover
Turbo Mini Forums

hi everyone..

i rebuilt my engine a couple of months back and ever since then i have an oil leak when the engine is running from the timing cover side and i suspect something is not 100% with the engine front plate/timing cover, the reason i suspect it is because when putting is ones of the screw i accidentally put one that was to long and in the process i might have bent the cover slightly, i still have to confirm is this is the case.

so now im getting my new head on, electric fan and rebuilding my turbo i would like to replace the engine front plate if it is this, any way, my question is can i replace the engine front plate without having to re-time the cam in? as it was a pain to do with the engine out of the car, i can imagine doing it with it in.

your comments please

also what bolts do you guys use to tighten the front plate cover done? just cut some bolts down to size? or do mini spares sell a bolt pack for it or something?

cheers

If you do not slacken off the vernier gear, then it should all go back on in the same place, but make sure you line everything up at TDC first, and mark the sprockets in a way that they will line up when it goes back on.

One thing to be sure to do is before nipping up all the screws on the cover, is first temporarily fit the crankshaft damper so as to align the seal, then nip up the screws. Something many do not consider and it can result in a geyser of an oil leak, if not done.

hi mate..

thanks for the advice, i will have a look that side and see if that is the cause of the leak.

You can bet its the half moon seal between the gearbox and engine. ....... hope not for you

But this is the usual place. ........... assemble the seal both sides with RTV Wynn's gasket maker next time or if you have to do it............ hope not for you though