I'm replacing the three front seals. I'm trying to avoid having the seal ride in the old groove on the crank. Complicating the situation a bit is the fact that the new seal is thinner than the old one so it's sealing edge is in a different spot in relation the the front surface of the seal. This generates two questions.

Can the crank seal be set just flush with the outside of the seal carrier, or should it be set at least as far in as the inside of the bevel that runs around the inside edge of the hole where the seal mounts? If I set it just flush, the new seal's sealing edge will probably ride in front of the existing groove since it's a thinner seal.

Can the seal be set 3mm deeper than the outside face of the seal carrier? This way I might be able to jump the old groove and have the new seal riding behind the old groove. Setting it this deep puts the back edge of the new seal flush with the inside surface of the seal carrier, and looks like it might interfere with the oil diversion piece that is riveted to the inside of the carrier just above the crankshaft hole. Is there plenty of oil spashing around in there anyway? I'm not sure how important this little oil diversion piece is.
--
Thanks to everyone for the help, Doug C. 81 242 Brick On Blocks, stock; 86 240, 129K