Mr. Gasket LS Front And Rear Cover Alignment Tools

If you’ve ever rebuilt an engine, you know that most of them use dowel pins for proper alignment. On the LS, you can find them on the block to aid with proper placement for the cylinder heads and the transmission. However, GM didn’t use any pins for the front and rear cover of the LS. The problem with this design is if these covers are not appropriately aligned, they will leak even with new gaskets installed.

The good news is Mr. Gasket has three alignment tools to help you install the front and rear covers when servicing an LS engine. Two of the tools are for the front cover, while one is designed for the back cover.

The LSTC1 on the left is designed to use when a seal is not yet inserted in the front cover. The LSTC2 on the right is used when the seal is installed.

The LSTC1 and LSTC2 are designed to install the front cover on the LS, but there are differences between them. The LSTC1 is the more accurate of the two part. It’s used when the front seal has been removed out of the cover. The LSTC2 is utilized when the front seal is installed in the cover. Because the LSTC2 uses the front seal to center things, it allows the cover to move around more. However, this part still works great for a leak free alignment and is much better than trying to eyeball it.

The LSRC1 is used to install the rear cover on the LS.

For the back of the engine, you will need the LSRC1. This part has an inner o-ring to align on the crankshaft and an outer o-ring to adjust the rear cover making for a perfect fit.

All of Mr. Gasket’s alignment tools are made out of a high-impact grey plastic designed for years of use. You can even use the LSTC1 and LSRC1 to drive the seals into the covers, making them a multipurpose tool. And best of all, these parts are built right here in the US.

For more information on these Mr. Gasket tools and other products for the LS, check out Holley.com.

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Brian Havins

A gearhead for life, Brian is obsessed with all things fast. Banging gears, turning wrenches, and praying while spraying are just a few of his favorite things.
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