Rear main seal

Habusailor

Habusailor

Senior Member
Besides soaking the rope seal is oil for a day or so, what are the techniques for removing and replacing the seal? I’m just dropping the pan. Do you have to loosen all the main caps?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
When I bought my last Fel-Pro 8BA pan gasket set, it came with a trimming guide, a razor knife, and specific instructions on how to install the seal. When first installed, it did not leak. Unfortunately, I had to remove the pan a short time later to swap oil pumps, and even though I was very careful upon replacing the pan, it developed a slight leak. I think these are "one-time" only deals.

The one thing you do want to remember is that the ends of the seal should be "proud" of the pan surface. When I installed mine using the "Fel-Pro" guide, it stuck up out of the pan more than I would have initially thought.

You do not have to loosen any caps.
 
Is this with the engine still in the car? The transmission still attached? I would think you might be able to knock the seal retainer around the crank with a brass punch or a hardwood drift.
But I was also thinking you would have to loosen all the main caps as well. I recently did an FE motor and the seal was so stuck in the block the crank had to come out completely.
 
My last year as a mechanic, was 1970, at that time, they made a puller, that was designed after a Chinese finger trap but, made of thin, braided wire. You use a small brass punch, to start the seal out and if you couldn't pull it the rest of the way, with pliers, you used the puller.

Soak the seal as usual, attach to the puller and run the other end over the crank, then pull it threw and cut as described.

I never pulled a 50+ year old seal but, if it was well oiled, when installed, it should come out ok.
 
Last edited:
So I know someone has done this.
Tubman, what’s the procedure? Because the top half is in the seal retainer right?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top