2.3L ('83-'97) 2.3 Lima front crankshaft seal

[atkinc088]

A friend gave me '97 Ranger with the 2.3 Lima that was leaking oil heavily from behind the harmonic balancer. So I tore it down and I'm at the point of replacing the front crankshaft seal. I tried a seal puller but I can't get it out. It just keeps ripping. The replacement gasket kit came with another gasket which I figured out is for the front engine cover. Would it be easier for me to remove the cover to get the front seal? Also I'm not sure which bolts need to come out.

 

[scotts90ranger]

yes, take off the front housing, it's the bottom part that is sticking out from the block. The bolts necessary are the ones with 10mm heads you can see in the picture and the front couple oil pan bolts, it includes the crank sensor mount. You have the new seal for the back of the front housing but the oil pan gasket is probably about worn out and probably wouldn't seal on it's own so put a little Ultra Black or Ultra Grey silicone on it.

 

[B2300]

May I ask you what tool you used to remove Timing Crank Sprocket?

 

[atkinc088]

I used a 6" gear puller from Advanced Auto and modified it by shortening and thinning out the "teeth" so that it could get around and behind the timing gear.

 

[Shran]

If you have a slide hammer with a screw holder attachment, you can screw a fine thread sheetrock screw into the metal part of the seal with a drill (just a little ways) and then use your slide hammer to pull the seal out. That's how I do front and rear mains, works great. No need to remove the timing cover.