ok guys, I'll just winging it . I just put it back together and centered the seal & timing cover on the crank as best I could. That's what Gessford, Keith Kraft and others say they do. If it doesn't seal this time I think I'll just use frickin...... LIQUID NAILS ! hehe!
Dave- I called a local Ford dealer, the cost is $80 but, I don't know what it looks like & if it really works anyway ? Last year, I think.....I bought the "sleeve" for under $10.00
Rory428- Even last year I bought the sleeve & it's still smooth with no grooves so, I'm using it again. I'm certain the timing cover seal was the problem but, there could have been other leaks. Sometimes it's hard to tell because when your driving, it blows everywhere ! The timing cover bolts were, a little loose also. I even talked to a FE builder that said after many hours of searching, his Canton
oil pan had a small hole in the front. He Said "I was about to fall a sleep under the car when I noticed a slow drip on it, wiped it off & more drips followed, I never thought it could be a hole in the
oil pan" !!! I will fill my Canton pan with water & watch for any leaks. It's worth a try. I chucked the dip stick & tube in the trash & bought a "Lokar". The braided tube was to short for where I wanted to mount it. I went to "Speedway Motors" (local racing store) and bought 2' of braided line. Then I went to a friends house & he has three Eagle Vision cars. The dip stick is like piano wire so it is a lot more flexible than the stainless supplied with the Lokar. The handle has a set-screw, took it out, taped the tube into the block at the stock location, and cut the new braided line to length. On the front of the heads, there's two unused holes ( for accessories I'm not using on that side) I installed the dipstick tube bracket from Lokar and it works great ! Very.....easy to get to being on the front of the head. A lot better than the stock Ford location. After I run the engine & let it sit for a while, I'll check the level then cut the top of the stick to length and put the knob back on. It should.....work perfect, even using the level marks on the Eagle Visions stick. I'll see how it comes out. It's funny, my wifes car is also a Vision, I told her I just used her dipstick to make one for the cobra, she said...."Bull@hit,..... put it back in" !!!! hehe!
I just had to rattle her cage a bit.
Anyway, I can't thank you guys enough for the advice & information & all the replies. You guys & clubcobra, are the best !
I'll just hope it all works.
Thanks,
Kev