A lot of knowledgeable engine folks here so although it is not for my 225 slant but for my 230 Dodge flathead: Which would you prefer as a timing cover seal, a leather seal or a nitrile rubber seal? Both are available and original was leather but I'm not sure which is better. My hub has a big groove in it so I ordered a speedi sleeve but have yet to order the seal. Any opinions? Thanks, Tim

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1969 Dart Gt 225/six
1941 Dodge Cpe. 218 flat six

Nitrile for sure.

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Joshua

Thanks Joshua. Leaning that way but wanted to see if the leather may provide something I'm missing.

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1969 Dart Gt 225/six
1941 Dodge Cpe. 218 flat six

Are your u-joint boots leather too?

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obliquely-inclined state of mind

My u-joint covers are rubber but one of the ones I replaced was leather. The rubber ones don't hold up too well either. The car is a 1941 Dodge Business Cpe.

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1969 Dart Gt 225/six
1941 Dodge Cpe. 218 flat six

My front wheel hub grease seals are leather and they seem to last................

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

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

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Sam, That is exactly the type of info I was hoping for. I am using a speedi-sleeve to refinish the hub sealing surface and they are polished stainless ("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.")so I will order the nitrile seal. Thanks everyone for the replies.....Tim

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1969 Dart Gt 225/six
1941 Dodge Cpe. 218 flat six