Timing cover seal issues

Well, I was in the process of changing the camshaft on my crate engine today and I pulled off the timing cover, little did I know that there was a oil seal of some kind on the bottom attached to the oil pan gasket. It was stuck to it with some kind of silicone looking sealer and just happened to pull the tabs on the oil pan gasket off with it.... just my luck. My question is, aside from changing the oil pan gasket, what is the best route to get the timing cover back on? Oh yeah, I am trying to replace the cover too with a nicer one. Even with the pan gasket tabs broken off though I can't get the cover on with the seal in the bottom.... My guess is I needed to drop the pan first and just didn't know it. Anyways.... what kind of sealing compound do I need (if any) for the oil pan gasket and the timing cover? Any kind of help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

What motor?

Just a chevy 350

Would it be possible to put some kind of sealer in place of the broken tabs? Also, if I pull the oil pan do I need to replace the rear main seal? Thanks.

No, the mains seal the crankshaft. Just a pan gastket, if I may suggest, now would be a nice time to install a 2 piece timing cover, that way when you have to swap timing sets or a cam, all you have to do is pull th ecover and not the pan. :thumbsup:

oh, and reuse a torn seal? don't tell me you contemplated reusing a jimmy-cap at one point :lol: same thing really.

I would do the 2 piece timing cover, but I already spent a lot on the one that I am going to be using (hopefully). Thank you for the advise on the "jimmy-cap" I don't know what i was thinking :banghead: .