I wonder why main bearings don't need trimming then? If the alleged same seal fits differently in different blocks, then how far off are the groove depths?
What did you come up with? With your seal? The blocks I have checked the grooves are pretty consistent. However, the seal measures what it measures. If it protrudes .060 per side, .120 of preload that ain’t gonna work. You would have to discuss that with TA on the design of the seal.
The reason is that after the caps are cut, the align bore process only resizes the main bearing bore, not the seal groove, so I could see excessive cap cutting could reduce seal groove diameter (reduced the most between 12 and 6 o'clock) with the right seal ending up too big on the cap side. Devon
Hey, I get the frustration. I purchased at the time a $6000 aluminum block 3 inch main purchased the seal from TA for that block, leaked like a sieve, found out years later after I sold it that there was a early version and a later version block. from what I understand, TA had to create a new seal for the early version.
Hence custom fit seal. We keep talking about this. It’s just a matter of putting a seal in, measuring the pre-load adjust accordingly.
Understood, but the OP Jim's have been cut at least twice (that he knows of). For Jim, the easiest way to know if the cap cut is an issue is to fit one half of the seal in the block, measure protuberance, then put that same half in the cap and see if there's any more. Devon
I had a block that was cut twice, all that was needed was a .005 difference on the top side. Sealed up fine
Well, then, TAs got some quality issues because what I showed you is way different not doubting your results but don’t doubt mine
After seeing your pictures went out to the garage check the part number on the seal it self which is 1516 reinstall the seal in the uncut cap pushed it firmly into the groove one side flush. The other side is up .060
That’s with the seal pressed firmly into the cap. Cross-section of groove measures.3.972 if you can measure yours that’ll tell us if we’re dealing with grossly different groove measures or differences with the seal. I will tell you this is not the only block there was two others that I had the same results.
From the picture looks like your calipers are deep. Can you measure from the furthest outer measurement? Just catch the edge.
I don't know what to say. That's a machined groove. What were the tolerances are anyone's guess. Maybe it wasn't critical using a rope seal, maybe some "no trimming" seals need trimming.
