allank42

I have a 383 stroker with maybe 500 miles on it and I can not get the oil pan gasket to seal in the front. I have a chrome oil pan and an aluminum timing chain cover. I have tried 3 different thick front gaskets. Does anyone know of a gasket brand that is known to be a little better at sealing the front?

MelWff

There are two different thickness gaskets and engine size has nothing to do with it. Read this to determine the correct gasket to use.
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/the-t...o-i-need/28651

C3 Stroker

I've had good experiences with Fel-Pro one piece pan gaskets, never a leak anywhere. But chrome oil pans are notorious for not sealing, regardless of gasket.

427Hotrod

Yep..I'd buff off the chrome where the gasket seals....use the right gasket and use some "Right Stuff" as a sealant with the gasket across the front.


JIM

avner

Hello
Try to use gasket SHELLAC sealer.
https://www.permatex.com/products/ga...compound-2-oz/
I used it on chrome auto transmission pan and there no leaks.
Avner

HeadsU.P.

This issue is somewhat common on chrome Timing Cover, Chrome Valve covers but real common on chrome water-necks and chrome oil pans.
There is not a RTV (or rubber) in the world that will stick to slippery chrome.

As others have said, remove the chrome in that area.

Love chrome parts. Have it almost everywhere on the engine. However, never could understand the reasoning for a chrome pan, on a low riding car like our Vettes.
Who can see it?

REELAV8R

Ok I guess I'd better remove my chrome pan on the engine and the transmission and the timing cover. They're all gonna leak

Oh, wait... they've been there for 10 years and no leaks....weird. Oh and the valve covers...what to do?

HeadsU.P.

Clarification:
Remove the chrome in the "gasket / RTV sealing area."

REELAV8R

I did none of that. They will seal, you just have to have the right size gasket. If you want to insure sealing a little ultra black works good. The right stuff is the same just in a pressurized can.
saying that chrome won't seal is just not an accurate statement.

Jebbysan

What pan gasket are you using?

REELAV8R

one piece felpro with ultra black in corners and along the crank scraper where it sandwiches between the pan and the block.

HeadsU.P.

Eight out of ten won't. You got lucky.

REELAV8R

It's i. The prep if you want sealant to seal.

If 8 out 10 won't seal then I got lucky at least 8 times. 2 valve covers removed and replaced multiple times same gasket, one trans pan, one timing set cover removed 3 times and one pan removed 2 times. None have leaked on any of those occasions. So I just don't know where this chrome leaks idea is coming from.

sunflower 1972

Right. It's just people's imagination that they leak.https://www.google.com/search?q=do+a...t=gws-wiz#ip=1

HeadsU.P.

^^^ Exactly ^^^^^

Chrome water-necks are the worst. Nothing a belt sander can't fix.

The only chrome engine parts that never leak are a chrome dipstick and a chrome air cleaner lid.
Which I have both.

REELAV8R

Well that certainly convinces me. I'll immediately take off all the non-leaking chrome on my engine.

4-vettes

Good! Glad we have that settled!
now onto things that help.
Sometimes aftermarket pans really are not made the very best. Scratching up the chrome a bit right on the gasket surface can often help with a troublesome pan.
using a light coat of "the right stuff" often does help.
Ultra black and the right stuff are NOT the same. You can purchase the right stuff in a tube just like ultra black. Both are good sealers. The right stuff seals like a bank vault.
I've removed most of the Chrome on my engine not because of sealing, but rather it just doesn't hold up in this tropical humidity.

allank42

Thanks for all the comments on this. I knew that there would be lots of opinions.
I think I will remove the chrome from the front crank timing chain cover lip that is leaking.
Should I also use the Shellac sealer along that entire lip or just install the gasket the way it was intended?
Thanks

Jebbysan

Post a picture of the oil pan....

Jebby

a71vette

I used to run Marketing and Product Development for Permatex, I can promise you The Right Stuff is not the same as Ultra Black. Honestly, the Permatex Optimum line are significantly better performing than those older formulas.