Minto.
Good to know it's a runner once more. Timing cover leaks should be an easy fix.
With clean faces, no gasket remains, look for rock between the castings. Displaced, incorrect, damaged or too long dowels and blocked dowel locating holes are the things that are overlooked, holding the castings apart. If the mating surfaces are badly damaged, this is one area where I would use a minimum of silicone to effect a seal as the mating surfaces are narrow. Check the retaining bolts for correct length, not bottoming, and that all muck, oil and old gasket cement is cleared from the blind holes.
Sump plate. I prefer studs and nuts here to avoid wear on the crankcase threads. If the SRM plate comes with setscrews be very careful in case these are bottoming before tightening down the gaskets. Easy to cause damage by just tightening them down before checking the lengths are correct for your particular motor.
Well done, happy days.
Swarfy.
