Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1939 chevrolet 216 engine(rear seal anmd front seal), soft hammer, hand crank

Question
Need to replace the front timing cover seal. Does the balancer just come off with a puller. Is there a bolt holding it in the center on the crankshaft? Rear seal, how is that replaced.

Answer
If the engine is stock the bolt that holds the front pulley in place is the part that you would put the hand crank in to start the engine. I use a dull chisel and hammer to turn this bolt out.    Then the pulley should tap off using a soft hammer. The rear main oil control on engine up to 1939 is by an oil slinger on the rear main not a seal. When the rear main leaks on those engine it is most commonly caused by a plugged up drain return hole in the lower main bearing cap. Pull the main and clean the drain. That should take care of the problem. Chevrolet started using a seal in the 1940 engine production run.
Brad