Super90

John,

Whose seal kit are you using?

Reason I ask, a local shop was using a Victor Reinz kit for a reseal, they installed the cylinder base to case o-rings, and had severe leaking. The o-ring cross section was not uniform, once they examined after disassembly. They then ordered Porsche factory cylinder base o-rings. Those had slightly larger cross section, and were completely uniform. Problem solved.

I'm going to use a Wrightwood kit on my project.

John McM

Thanks for the heads up. I'm using Porsche sets for both the crankcase and heads. However I have an Elring crankcase set and Victor Reinz head set for another day. I'll have a look at those cylinder base o rings to see if I can observe that issue. In any case I plan to use some Curil T on those as a back up.

Super90

Reportedly, though I don't have the data, Porsche calls for a 2mm cross section on those o-rings.

As for sealant on the cylinder base o-rings, their commentary was along these lines....

They did not use Curil T. On the case spigot to cylinder base o-ring area they used Permatex 80697 copper coat spray gasket sealant applied by spraying some into a small container the used a small brush to apply it to both the grooves in the cylinder base as well as the groove on case side and a bit onto the o-ring itself. Not big globs, just enough to make sure it covers everything for a maximum seal. You don’t want it just gushing out all over the place. Common sense should be used here.

No direct experience myself, just sharing their methodology, as they shared it with me. Each shop has it's own preferences.

Perhaps Steve or Colin will weigh in....

I know you have been combing the "Sealant" thread on Pelican too...

John McM

Thanks Robert. We actually have that product in New Zealand so I can use the advised method.

I've done a lot of research and it is bewildering at times e.g. the local experienced mechanics don't support anything other than 574 on the case seal whereas it's Threebond on Henry's list. Then there's the trolling on Molykote 55 vs 111. The P fix it DVD isn't 100% comprehensive. Some torque settings are only mentioned in one document. I just have to choose my own path and own the decisions. I'm enjoying myself though, especially as installation is cleaner than disassembly.

C4inLA

Those are the cylinder barrel to case O-rings? As I was so hopeful that the tc gaskets and cam o-rings would solve my only noticeable oil leak, i still have the leak. Cannot see source coz those cooling deflectors are in the way... I suspect the barrel o-rings you chaps are discussing.... Noted!

John McM

Yes, the barrel to case O-rings. Another possibility in that area are the through bolt O-rings. When you rebuild these engines you realise how many potential oil leak points there are. At some point you just have to accept a few drips. I couldn't with the nose bearing as I was losing a lot of oil, not just a few drops.

C4inLA

Exactly. When I had engine on stand, shroud off and before cleaning anything, I checked the through bolt saddle and all dry as far as I could tell. But after playing with my temp gun, it is amazing these engines don't fry o-rings much sooner. Cylinder head and barrels 300F+ degrees, Cat 450F+ ... It's bloody hell in there.... I pointed it at base metal of distributors 170F ...

Super90

Mine has been leaking at the cylinder bases. Pulling the motor to fix that. Since it's all coming apart, we are putting in the latest model, upgraded 3.6L pistons and cylinders.

Case through bolts are another of the "usual suspects", without a doubt. Again, VR o-rings are suspect according to a few I have talked to. Porsche original, or Wrightwood kit.

My engine builder is at a different shop. I'll ask his preference on the cylinder base o-ring sealant...

HiWind

^^ can one order the wrightwood kit direct or is it only available to dealers?

ps - it didnt include the RSR rocker shaft seals which are worth doing per Steve W and I did those too

John McM

Crankshaft in place with assembly grease etc. next step is fitting the nose bearing and closing the case. That will wait until Saturday when I have lots of light, time and hopefully an awake son to hold the through bolts etc.

BTW the crank seal isn't fully inserted as I need to lift the crankshaft out slightly to fit the nose bearing.

John McM

I measured Porsche and Victor Reinz O rings. Porsche rings are 2.0mm in both dimensions. Victor Reinz are slightly oval with the shorter dimension being 0.06mm less. Not sure that this would necessarily matter, especially with spray sealant in there

John McM

I sourced specialised running in oil. Zinc levels in this are close to 1,700 ppm so should protect my tappets and Cams well.

John McM

I've seen their crankcase set but not the head set. Maybe I need to look a bit harder.

Super90

Per my engine builder... "He likes Reinzosil, good to 300 degrees C! Has used a silicone grease on the green viton o-rings at the base with no other sealant, at times, however. Issue with sealant is you want to clamp it down and not let up. That is a bit difficult on cylinders. The o-rings and surface finish really provide the seal. Older engines had copper gaskets, and he uses a copper spray on coating on those. This Reinzolsil works good on cam housing to head assembly too. Technique is critical to clamping it up."

That copper spray he mentions sounds like the same the other shop discussed. I confirmed with them on that Permatex copper sealant and that is what they used. Interesting.

It's never simple...

Time will tell, as I'll most likely have the Reinzosil on mine when he does that assembly. We can compare notes in the future... 😊

John McM

Just to confirm that the other shop uses the Permatex product on 964s?

Isn't it ironic that Reinzosil is a Victor Reinz product. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be sold in NZ so Permatex is my only option.