I am going to be changing the seals behind the water pump and the optispark. How difficult is this? Also, how hard is it to press in the new ones?

 

it is not that difficult. make sure you take your time and be careful not to tear the waterpump seal, it is easy to do.

 

just grease up the new ones with multi purpose grease or engine oil and they should go in fine.to take the old ones out u can get a seal remover tool.

 

They seals go on dry. Easy to change out.

 

Thanks for replying. Now if I can just get it to quit raining here.

 

You will need to remove the wate pump, OptiSPark and hamronic balancer. I am doing it now.

Also, you will need to lower the front of the oil pan because it catches the bottom of the timing cover. The last time I did it, I replaced the oil pan gasket because I didn't want any leaks where the timing cover and oil pan meet. You will need to spread some sealant in that seem and there isn't much room to do this without removing the pan but some guys say it can be done.

 

From what I understand you don't need to remove the timing chain cover. This is what was said in past posts that I searched for. Also one of the replies above talks about a seal removing tool. I will seek this out as well since I have decided to change out the optispark as well.

 

You don't need to remove the timing cover. The waterpump gear seal is a PITA as the inner wiper likes to roll as you install the seal and then it will leak. My friend and I found that a plastic cap to a marker that's the right size to lead the seal over the spline. Lub the inside of the seal with oil. Leave the outside ring of the seal dry and make sure the timing chain cover is clean (use brake cleaner). For the opti seal get a short piece of PVC pipe or a can that's the same diameter as the seal; place a flat plate on the end and tap the seal down evenly/squarely. The opti seal should also be dry on the outside and the timing cover clean.

 

I use the back side of a socket to drive the new seal in.
Like the others said, be careful not to tear the seal as you put it on the shaft. I tore my first opti drive seal. The second time I found a cone shaped cap from a tube of something (RTV, I think) to get the hole in the seal up over the big part of the shaft.

 

Thanks for the replies. This will definately help in doing it right the first time.