Thanks. Nice tool.
Just a couple of dumb questions since I've never put my hands on a GM LS gen small block before.
Wouldn't it be possible to remove the old seal and the cover together... then reinstall it together so the old seal works as a centering implement. If its not possible to remove the cover in the first place with the seal in place that is understandable.
Second, if you don't have the cover bolts snug and the cover can still move around, wouldn't tapping in the new seal make the cover center perfectly well and then you can snug the bolts ?
There are no dumb questions, Brother.
That's a good question, actually. Now, assuming you remove only the round seal that goes around the crankshaft flange, then you don't need to center the metal cover. You would just leave the metal-clad gasket behind the cover untouched.
I think the issue is that the crankshaft flange seal itself is not rigid enough to center the rear cover. It is pliable so it will conform if it's not centered correctly.