Opinions on oil seal

[oldodge41]

Which of these would you use for a timing cover seal? One is leather and one is nitrile. The leather is listed for a '48 Dodge 230 and the nitrile is listed for a '54 Dodge230. Apparently Chrysler switched from leather to rubber, but was it a cost cutting measure or a sealing improvement? I'm curious what you guys think.

#1 is NATIONAL Part # 6186 Leather Seal, Shaft Size=2.187", Housing Bore=3.189, Outer Diameter=3.194, Width=0.718in Oil Seal about $20

#2 is NATIONAL Part # 6636S Nitrile Seal, Shaft Size=2.187", Housing Bore=3.187, Outer Diameter=3.194, Width=0.687in Oil Seal about $10

Edited December 29, 2010 by oldodge41

[Robert Horne]

I try to find seals that are made recently.

[Robert Horne]

Napa has a NOS 21820, 2.188 ID,,,,,,,,,,,3.194 OD,,,,,,,,,,,.469 wide,,,,,,,,,$31.49,,,,,,,,,,,

[Robert Horne]

OReilly Auto Parts,,,$28.00,,,,,,#6186,,,,,,,,,new stock

[Robert Horne]

OReilly Auto,,,,,,,,,,,,,,# 6636S,,,,,,,,,$22,,,,,new stock..

[oldodge41]

Thanks for the info Robert. Both seals above are available from Rockauto. I'm just not sure about whether to go with leather or nitrile

[oldodge41]

From a post on www.slantsix.org where I also frequent and posted the same question. I will order the nitrile seal since it will be riding on the speedi-sleeve which is: "SKF SPEEDI-SLEEVE is thin-walled, 0,28 mm (0,011 in), and made of high quality stainless steel. The contact surface is wear-resistant and machined to minimize directionality (0° ±0,05) with a finish of Ra 0,25 to 0,5 μm (10 to 20 μin), depending on size."

"If your crank has the tiny, microscopic angled serrations on it at the seal surface, these will wear out a nitrile seal faster than a leather one. When I had my crank polished, I had them polish out these groves, and then used the nitrile seal. These tiny groves are angled in a way to push the oil back into the engine. But they function as a file against the plastic. Once good plastic seals were developed, they stopped applying this technology. If yours does not have the groves, then the plastic is good.

Check it out and see if they are there. If so, stick with the leather. It will work fine.

Sam"

[oldodge41]

Got my speedi-sleeve and rubber seal installed. Works good. I ran it in the garage for half an hour or so with no leakage. Still need to put half the grille back in and put the hood back on.

[P-12 Tommy]

I've had my Speedi-Sleeve and a NOS rubber seal in for a couple of months and still dry as a bone. I'm happy with it.

Tom