Rear Main Seal?

[1980cdeluxe]

Well, was planning to get the '78, 2wd, 250, big 10 state inspected today. Put some new stuff on, and noticed I had started to leak oil someway. It's at the back of the pan (bellhousing), my dad thinks it's the rear main seal (only leaks while running). It's super hard to get the pan off though, I guess I should just loosen the motor mounts and jack the motor and see if I can get it that way? Once I get the pan off, what's the easiest way to tell if the seal is bad? I'm sure my dad will know, but I thought i'd ask so I know what to look for tomorrow too. I was thinking it could be the pan gasket, but from where it is leaking my dad is dead set on the seal. He's put them in numerous trucks from 73-80 (250 292 etc) though, so I'm sure we wont have a problem...

I blame him though, it didn't happen untill he got in it    

edited cause I can't type a paragraph without tons of spelling mistakes  

Edited by: 1980cdeluxe at: 5/5/06 11:32 am

[123 pugsy]

You should just be looking at what your pop is doing and try to learn something.I was never in as good position as you are now when I was young.

[1980cdeluxe]

I have been, but it's his way or the highway and it really gets to me sometimes. I mean i'm really glad he's here to help me with all this stuff and I've learned so much from him - but it's just frustrating. He wont be replacing it anyways, I will be the one doing it.

[Leadfoot]

if it's the seal the flywheel will be oily,you might get lucky and it just be loose bolts on the back of the oil pan,happened to a friend of mine just last week..

good luck

Tim

[Lt.Del]

It is not hard to replace the rear main seal.  Dropping the pan is not that bad.  Putting it back on, well, lining up those bolt holes can be frustrating.

I don't know what the torque specs are for mains on a 250, once you get that and a torque wrench, you're set.  I'd get a new oil pump if it has a lot of miles on it, they are cheap.

It would only take you about 3 hours total.  Wear old clothes, that oil drips constantly from your crank and caps.

SgtDel

[1980cdeluxe]

Thanks for all the suggestions

I pulled the pan this afternoon. Well, I got all the bolts off and got it loose from the motor (which took awhile). I'll jack it up tomorrow, and get the pan out. I have a torque wrench, and will figure out the spec for the mains tomorrow (I think my dad knows). The motor has 55k original miles, so I think the oil pump is fine - although he *may* want to replace it..

The 383 stroker my brother and my dad built - that's currently located in my brothers parked 78 4 wheel drive is looking awfully tempting <grins>. It's been parked for awhile, I wonder if he'd notice it missing

[1976Scottsdale]

He might.  Heck, I'd put the 250 in his just for grins when he starts it up and then hears your's pull up... open headers blasting, of course.

No kidding on the oil either.  That stuff goes all over the place.

[1980cdeluxe]

Update on progress,

Started a little while ago, got the mounts loose and the oil pan out - with my dad supervising ofcourse .. Pulled the main off, and tried to get the other half of the rear main seal for about 15 minutes and still couldn't get it off even after my dad explained how to do it. So he got underneath and it was out in about 3 and a half minutes *laughs*. Got the other seal replaced, mains about to be torqued and old gaskets clear. Taking a break, then will finish it up