front cover/water pump bolt goodness

[1990LTD]

I didn't mix the bolts up (they're still in their original holes in the water pump), so let's get that out of the way first



I've seen different websites and different books list contradictory information regarding the front cover and water pump bolts - Some say just use engine oil on the front cover thread and non-hardening sealer on the water pump bolts (as well as the intake manifold bolts, FWIW) - Other say to use sealer on the front cover and nothing on the water pump bolts.


What's the deal? The car is my 90, so it's an SEFI, no fuel pump to worry about. What do you use on the threads of what bolts when you're doing the timing chain?


How about on the intake manifold bolts? Use sealer on those too?




My plan was to use the sealer on anything near the water passages in the front cover, and on all of the WP bolts. There's slight pitting around the passages but you can't feel any irregularities with your finger running across the gasket surface, I was going to put a thin film of RTV on the timing cover around those passages just to be safe. Also going to put some RTV in the keyway of the balancer when it goes on.


What say you?

[86VickyLX]

Sealer on the front most bolts for the intake manifold. Where the water passages are. The rest leave alone.

[gadget73]

sealer where it hits water. Something that doesn't harden. Pipe dope or something like Permatex #2 is fine. The others need to be clean of rust and gunk and other shit, and I like to spray a little wd40 or similar in the holes to wash the crud out. Light application of RTV to take care of the voids in the cover is perfect, just don't glob it in there. Ditto on the dab in the balancer keyway.

[1990LTD]

This is the stuff I picked up





Do you think it will suffice?


I bought red thread locker without even thinking that it's going to have to come apart at some point when I rebuild it properly. Gotta go back and get some of the blue stuff for the cam and crank bolts, I can always just exchange that sealant for something more suitable.

Would you do the light film of RTV all the way around the timing cover or just near the water? Would you do the thin skim of RTV around the water jackets on the head as well? Seems like it would do a decent job of holding the gasket in place before I plop the intake on top, as well.

[Piece-it pete]

When I did the timing chain I used RTV on all mating surfaces, nothing on failsafe bolts, and good antiseize on the rest of the bolts (after wire wheel cleaning). I couldn't find my neighbors' torque wrench so I winged it. I haven't touched the intake. I'm a hack, so YMMV, but no leaks so far.

Pete