The timing gear cover on my '13 has a "U" shaped channel in the casting to accept a felt seal. This as opposed to the "L" shaped rebate in later covers which is slightly larger. There doesn't seem to be a part offering for a seal which will fit the '13 cover, the felt seal that's available is too big to cram into this cover. Any suggestions ?

Lang's offers the correct fitting seal. Rope type for the early cars. 1909-1912

https://www.modeltford.com/item/3012RE.aspx

Jack, I think Rich is referring to the camshaft seal. The seal in the gasket sets suppliers sell is too bulky, and in my opinion too soft. It needs to be a harder felt like that used under typewriters as a cushion.I have yet to find an alternative felt seal but have had some success with washers cut with wad punches from sheet neoprene.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under

Allan, just so. I neglected to say it's the camshaft seal I'm puzzled about. Sorry for the confusion. Could you please elaborate on your neoprene method? Material and dimensions ?

https://www.google.com/search?q=neoprene+cam+seal+mtfca&rlz=1C1PRFA_enUS447US447 &oq=neoprene+cam+seal+mtfca&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60.4808j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie= UTF-8

No one I know of makes the correct seal for the early U shaped TG covers. I've cut down felt seals from my stash to squeeze in there. Don't know which felt seal I used, though. I know some who machine one side of the U off but I wouldn't do that.

Rich, I took a cover to a rubber goods merchant in the city and bought a piece of neoprene sheet almost as thick as the groove in the timing cover. From memory, the punched hole in the centre was 1", but it can be measured off the cam nut. The neoprene washer was glued into the grove with super glue to stop it turning in the cover.

I run a True fire ignition in that car and in 21 years I have never had an oil leak problem at the camshaft.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.

I have not looked at a cover, but here is a SWAG. Would a " O Ring" work? Dan

Dan, i had considered that. The groove is deeper than it is wide. Perhaps a larger diameter one could be fitted first, with an RTV sealant, and then a second one could be installed inside the first.

Allan from down under

Allan, thanks much for the tips !

Back when no one seemed to know the early covers had a narrower seal than the later T's, I used flathead Ford V-8 seals. I still do. When they started eliminating the asbestos seals, I started buying all the old type seals I could find. I'm glad I did.

Could someone post a photo of the seal area in question?

Never mind, I see it's in the thread, linked above. How about boring that area open, to mimic the later style, and then install the modern seal?

Ha ! Larry, they still don't. I presume a seal for V-8s is still available although without asbestos ? Could you be a little more specific ? That would be very helpful, thanks !

As I mentioned, I started gathering these rope seals years ago when you could still find them at swap meets. I'm not sure when Ford went from the narrow seal to the wide one. That would be an interesting topic to discuss. The timing gear cover above is a pre '15 cover. I can't imagine a felt seal in there would leak much since there is no pressure there. A 1915 cover still looks like the early ones, with the short oil fill spout, but you can use a modern seal up front. Perhaps in 1916 or 17 they went to the long oil fill spout.