RE: [alfa] Replacement of front crankshaft seal - spider

["Gwynne W. Spencer" <gwynnes1@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I missed the info about the year / model of the car. I had a 1959 Giulietta 
Sprint and the front crankcase cover had the lip on the outside. In 1961 
the Alfa dealer in San Jose, CA told me it was going to cost something like 
$450 to pull the head and front cover to replace the leaking seal. I has a 
friend who was a machinist / tool maker; we  turned the engine into a 
lathe! He made a fitting that would slide over the crankshaft end with a 
groove for the key. The fitting was designed to hold the cutting tool one 
would use on a lathe. We pulled the radiator and the front pulley.  We then 
put a lot of very thick grease inside the cover to trap cuttings, slid the 
tool on the crank, set the tool cutting edge at the diameter that would 
remove the outer lip and tightened the crank bolt enough for the cutting 
edge to put slight pressure on the front cover. Then, after pulling the 
spark plugs, used the starter motor to drive the "lathe" - AKA crankshaft. 
We tightened the crank bolt bit by bit until the lip was cut away. We then 
reached in with a piece of steel with a notch cut in it and yanked out the 
old seal.He had also made another cutter that could machine a groove in the 
cover that would accept a snap ring to prevent the new seal from going into 
the engine (probably not necessary, as the seal was a very tight fit). We 
then used our ":lathe" to cut the groove and subsequently installed the 
snap ring. I may still have the tool in my auto junque box.  This solution 
worked fine.  I know that later engines had the lip on the inside where it 
belonged!

Gwynne Spencer

At 10:42 PM 4/1/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>Shawn -
>
>No need to remove the timing cover just to replace the seal, that's a lot of
>work.
>
>You will need to remove the radiator so you have decent access. Remove the
>alt. belt, and the spica drive belt. I'd suggest you replace them both while
>they are off (especially the Spica belt).
>
>You'll need an impact wrench to get the pulley off, a 1 1/2" socket and
>possibly an extension or two. Depending on how large the impact wrench is,
>you may have to use an extension or two through the grille opening.
>
>If the nut has never been off before, there will be a lock tab on it. The
>impact wrench should make short work of it. Replacement lock tabs are NLA
>last I knew, so just use some red loctite on reassembly.
>
>Once the nut is off, the pulley should slide right off the crankshaft. The
>best way to remove the seal, is to drill a small hole in it parallel to the
>crank, thread a sheet metal screw into it (don't go too deep though, there
>is an oil slinger (washer kind of thing) directly behind it) and grab the
>screw with a pair of vice grips and pull it out.
>
>To install the new seal, find a piece of pipe, pvc, or something hollow that
>is approx. the same OD as the seal and deep enough that it will clear the
>front of the crank. Use this with a block of wood to tap the new seal into
>place. The trick is to get it started square to the opening, and only tap on
>the outer circumference otherwise you risk damaging the new seal.
>
>When you put it all back together, it is easier to install the FI pump belt
>with the crank pulley. Kind of work both ends of the belt on at the same
>time as you push the crank pulley home.
>
>Timing the pump is in Wes' Spica manual as well as many others. However,
>there was one manual (can't remember which one) that had the procedure
>wrong. So check a few and make sure they all agree, or ask here when you are
>ready ...
>
>HTH,
>
>Jeff
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-alfa@domain.elided [mailto:owner-alfa@domain.elided] On Behalf Of
>Shawn Mayer
>Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2004 5:31 PM
>To: alfa-digest@domain.elided
>Subject: [alfa] Replacement of front crankshaft seal - spider
>
>Hello all -
>
>I've had my 79 spider about 3 years now, and am finally starting to do
>some of the work myself. I've got the head off right now to be rebuilt
>(I burned 2 valves in the fall), and I would like to replace my front
>crankshaft seal while I have access - it leaks a fair bit of oil.
>
>I have not been able to find a very good procedure for this - so if
>someone has a link, or can give me a brief rundown, I would appreciate
>it. I've heard conflicting information on a couple of things, such as:
>-Do I need to remove the water pump to get to the seal?
>-Should I pull the timing chain cover, seat the new seal in the cover,
>and fit with new gaskets, or am I better off pulling/replacing the seal
>with the front cover in place?
>-Is there a special procedure I need to follow with regard to the SPICA
>drive/belt since it's run from crankshaft?
>
>And finally - I know I need to use an impact wrench to get the pulley
>free. My shop manual shows the bolt to be a "special bolt." Does this
>mean I need a "special wrench" head to remove it. I don't have the car
>in front of me to check this out at the moment.
>
>Thanks in advance for any info provided - enjoy your cars in the spring
>sun!
>
>Shawn Mayer
>79 Spider Veloce
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