Hey all,

I just put a cam seal in last night...It was Fel-pro, only one I trust...I tried to put the rear in, but It went a little awkward and I tore it up...

No biggie, I went to NAPA and got one of their seals..It was to big...By the time I was done tryin to make it work, they were closed...So I went to Advance Auto and got a Moto sumthin brand..Brought it home and it was to big and I tore it all up...

This is nutz...I am being held up from finishing this thing by a lousy cam seal.....Is Fel-pro the ONLY brand that does it right?? Unfortunatly there are none in town and all have to be special order..

This may be just a vent, but I am looking for opinions here too....

I think its user error. I have used several brands bought by all the chains listed above and with proper install they worked fine.

Terry

OK...Hey, It's a new (refurbed) head.Do you think that the end Cam cap could be machined out of tolerance? I am talking this is off by .2mm....It does not even line up..

I have to ask...What do you mean proper install???

The front lip of the seals is supposed to fit all the way around before it can be tapped into place based on my experience....But my experince and oil seals is limited to Chevy Small blocks...

Am I missing something?

When I hold the Felpro seal next to the NAPA seal and the Motorcity seal, the Felpro is like .2mm smaller in diameter than the others, and it fits correctly....What is up with the manufacturing tolerances...

Try putting them in the freezer and then installing them. It might make them shrink a little and then expand back out when they are at normal temp.

In all honesty though, I'd try and get the correct seal. Is there a dealer close by?

Freezer????!!! That's it! OMG...I forgot about the durn freezer trick!!!!!! Holy crud!! Thank you huge!

Just an epiphany I had. You heat shit up to make it expand and freeze stuff to make it contract. Might work, might not. What have you got to lose?

I only had to use the freezer trick on press in bearings..>I never thought about using it for seals...

BTW, at this point, Sanity is all I have to lose..LOL..Thanks again...

Originally posted by Redricebox
When I hold the Felpro seal next to the NAPA seal and the Motorcity seal, the Felpro is like .2mm smaller in diameter than the others, and it fits correctly....What is up with the manufacturing tolerances...

I had the same exact problem you did. I had 2 new ones I got with my FelPro headgasket set. The exhast cam seal inner lip around the cam itself got bent and leaked a little. I went to get another new one and Advance gave me a different brand but I don't remember what BCA or something. I tried to put it in and I could not get the outer lip to fit in to the hole. It was too big. I even tried opening up the cam cap on the end and trying to fit it in but it was still getting caught on the side and when I tightened it down it popped out every time. I wound up getting a FelPro one and put it next to each other and just like you said the cheapie one was about .2mm too big

Now I will only buy FelPro unless they can't get it.

-Nate
________________
-97 Avenger I4 5spd (R.I.P.)
-95 Eclipse GS 5spd
-Mods: Megan Header, Megan Cat-Back, Pacesetter High-Flow Cat, AEM V2, Fluidyne Radiator
All-Motor Buildup on the way

Thanks for letting me know I am not crazy..LOL...OK, I may be a little crazy, but this seal didn't fit either..I have a Felpro coming, so by Weds hopefully this thing will come together...

Now which smart arse here said "User error"??? See, I don't make any errors, ever...LOL...Yeah right... ! Just pickin.....

Originally posted by Redricebox
Thanks for letting me know I am not crazy..LOL...OK, I may be a little crazy, but this seal didn't fit either..I have a Felpro coming, so by Weds hopefully this thing will come together... Now which smart arse here said "User error"??? See, I don't make any errors, ever...LOL...Yeah right... ! Just pickin.....

Sounds good. Good Luck. Glad I could help you out.

:cheers


-Nate
________________
-97 Avenger I4 5spd (R.I.P.)
-95 Eclipse GS 5spd
-Mods: Megan Header, Megan Cat-Back, Pacesetter High-Flow Cat, AEM V2, Fluidyne Radiator
All-Motor Buildup on the way

Lol, I had the same problem but in reverse order.

Got Napa seals and they didn't fit.

Then got the Felpro stuff and fit like a glove.

I'm pretty partial to them now after that.

Originally posted by dsmmyth
Lol, I had the same problem but in reverse order. Got Napa seals and they didn't fit. Then got the Felpro stuff and fit like a glove. I'm pretty partial to them now after that.

Werd
:+


-Nate
________________
-97 Avenger I4 5spd (R.I.P.)
-95 Eclipse GS 5spd
-Mods: Megan Header, Megan Cat-Back, Pacesetter High-Flow Cat, AEM V2, Fluidyne Radiator
All-Motor Buildup on the way

Yep sure enough....I got some Felpro seals yesterday and they went right in without issue using a 36mm socket...I think "Motor cShitty" gaskets will get an email from me about their slightly innacurate manufacturing tolerances.....