info on cam and balance shaft seals?

[crs2]

I am going to look at an '83 tomorrow. Belts are fairly recent, with records. The owner says it needs a "cam balance seal". Oil is dripping on the manifold and it leaves a trail of smoke as it goes down the road.
I've heard of a cam seal and a balance shaft seal, but not a cam balance seal. What am I looking for here?
The price is right at $950 obo. Needs front seat covers and a few odds and ends but nothing serious. Is this a real part or am I looking at resealing the whole front of the engine?

[ScoobySteve]

Originally Posted by crs2

I am going to look at an '83 tomorrow. Belts are fairly recent, with records. The owner says it needs a "cam balance seal". Oil is dripping on the manifold and it leaves a trail of smoke as it goes down the road.
I've heard of a cam seal and a balance shaft seal, but not a cam balance seal. What am I looking for here?
The price is right at $950 obo. Needs front seat covers and a few odds and ends but nothing serious. Is this a real part or am I looking at resealing the whole front of the engine?

Sounds like a good find. I think he's referring to the cam tower / rear cam sprocket housing seal. Mine weeps (scheduled for replacement). It must be leaking pretty badly to eave a trail of smoke down the road. If the belts were done recently I don't understand why he didn't just replace that seal though. It wouldn't have been that hard, I don't think.

[Icey1174]

It is the rear cam tower gasket. The easiest way to change it properly is to take the cam off. This means the belts too. I think some people have changed it from the top. There are three screws, not four. There is a fourth hole there that you will feel, bit it is not a screw hole so do not worry.

This gasket is only torqued to 13 lbs if I remember correctly. That is not much torque at all. Any more torque will crush the gasket and it will leak right away. I advise getting 3 lock washers for the screws when you replace it so they do not loosen over the next few years.

[Slam]

As above but with one amendment. The cam tower gasket can let go and leak on the #1 exhaust and that'll smoke. Cam tower gasket is a bigger job 'cause the belts have to be tensioned when you're finished. The little cork gasket (as mentioned) can be done from above with the cam tower in place. Where's the oil leaking from/smoke coming from?