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Replaced rear main seal today - pics

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  • vernz
    Experienced
    • Jul 12 2008
    • 224

    Replaced rear main seal today - pics

    Today was rear main seal day. This was done with the 430 in my 59 bird. The engine was jacked up and boards placed under the mounts to hold it up. The only thing disconnected to jack the engine up, other than engine mounts, was the upper radiator hose. The oil pump was removed in order to remove the oil pan. Removal of the rear main bearing cap went smoothly. See picture of bearing cap with lower rope seal behind it. Removal of the upper seal was difficult, we used a screw into the seal and one person had to pull while the other turned the crankshaft. The seal was really deteriorated and we broke off about 3/4 of an inch at a time. But eventually it all came out fine. One person told me beforehand that some engines have a pin in the seal channel to prevent seal rotation. No such pin was present in my engine. See the picture of our rudimentary removal tool...long dry wall screw and vise grips. I used FelPro neoprene gaskets to replace the original gaskets. The gaskets on the sides of the bearing cap use a nail to expand them. You can see them inserted before being pounded in in one of the pictures. In the picture of the bottom of the engine with pan removed you can see paint on a counterweight that looks roughly like a "T". One of the biggest problems we had was getting the oil pump back in during reassembly. The drive shaft had fallen out during dissasembly. We tried for an hour to get the shaft properly seated in the pump. When the two pump bolts were tightened the pump did not lie flat on the seating surface. We finally loosened the distributor so the pump could be properly seated then tightened down the distributor. Everything ran fine after the job was finished, so this obviously worked. I had purchased a replacement pump drive shaft that is heavier duty than the original however the one "Precision Oip Pumps" sent me was several inches too short. The job took about 8 hours sart to finish. It was nice doing this on a garage lift. I couldn't imagine trying this on my back under the car.

    Vern
    Attached Files
    Last edited by vernz; July 25, 2009, 07:35 AM.
  • YellowRose
    Super-Experienced


    • Jan 21 2008
    • 17188

    #2
    Replaced rear main seal today - pics

    Hi Vern!

    Thanks for the account and for the great pictures of the process! I am glad things worked out okay for you, after an 8 hour go at it!

    Ray Clark - Squarebirds Administrator
    The Terminator..... VTCI #11178 ITC #6000 Yellow Mustang Registry (YMR) #12188
    Contact me via Private Message for my email address, or Call (Cell) 210-875-1411

    https://www.squarebirds.org/picture_gallery/TechnicalResourceLibrary/trl.htm
    Faye's Ovarian Cancer Memorial Website.
    https://faye.rayclark.info/index.html

    Comment

    • tbird430
      Super-Experienced
      • Jun 18 2007
      • 2648

      #3
      Thanks for posting up the pics & I'm glad you have the task at hand completed.

      Now, How much blood did you two guys loose? LOL!!

      -Jon
      sigpic
      The 1960 Ford Thunderbird. The WORLD'S most wanted car....

      VTCI Member#6287.

      Comment

      • RustyNCa
        Super-Experienced
        • May 31 2007
        • 1370

        #4
        Originally posted by vernz
        It was nice doing this on a garage lift. I couldn't imagine trying this on my back under the car.

        Vern
        I'm afraid I can imagine it that way. I did that in my dad's driveway back before I bought my place. I also replaced all the main bearings at the same time, the rear main bearing didn't look very healthy when I dropped it down.

        Doing those bearings on the ground was lots of fun.

        Comment

        • vernz
          Experienced
          • Jul 12 2008
          • 224

          #5
          My hat's off to you for taking on that job from under the car. I'll try the power steering cylinder seals for my 59 on my back sometime this fall and the malfunctioning generator on my 60 soon.

          Vern

          Comment

          • simplyconnected
            Administrator
            • May 26 2009
            • 8778

            #6
            Originally posted by vernz
            ... I used FelPro neoprene gaskets to replace the original gaskets. The gaskets on the sides of the bearing cap use a nail to expand them. You can see them inserted before being pounded in in one of the pictures...
            Vernz, what a great job well done. (I certainly would have scratched the crank using a drywall screw.)

            So, you replaced the rope with a FelPro split neoprene seal? How did it turn out, now that it's been a while?

            BTW, your pictures are exceptionally sharp and clear! - Dave
            Member, Sons of the American Revolution

            CLICK HERE to see my custom hydraulic roller 390 FE build.

            "We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?"
            --Lee Iacocca

            From: Royal Oak, Michigan

            Comment

            • vernz
              Experienced
              • Jul 12 2008
              • 224

              #7
              Simplyconnected - So far no leaks, but then I've only put about 30 miles on her since the job was completed. Thanks for the compliment on the pictures. I use an older Canon ELPH digital camera that is only 5 megapixels. The current model, for about $230, is 12 megapixels and is top rated. Some of the closeups I can get are amazing. Take a look at this closeup. I actually use the camera in closeup mode, then view on the screen to see details that I can't see otherwise.

              Vern
              Attached Files

              Comment

              • simplyconnected
                Administrator
                • May 26 2009
                • 8778

                #8
                Vernz, the thing that really stands out, is your ability to take such close shots USING A FLASH!!! Mine washes out terribly unless I put a styrofoam bowl around my lens to tame down the light. Your camera is excellent for close-up shots.
                Member, Sons of the American Revolution

                CLICK HERE to see my custom hydraulic roller 390 FE build.

                "We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?"
                --Lee Iacocca

                From: Royal Oak, Michigan

                Comment

                • vernz
                  Experienced
                  • Jul 12 2008
                  • 224

                  #9
                  Simplyconnected - I've had my share of washed out pictures using flash during closeups. Two techniques I've used is to put a piece of masking tape over the flash (styrofoam cup is even better if you can get it to stay in place) or angle the shot so the flash doesn't reflect back to the lens. Below is a shot from my other hobby using the masking tape method. I really got close with this one and did not even see the dust until looking at the picture. It is about four times actual size. Reflectivity of the subject has a lot to do with success.

                  Vern
                  Attached Files

                  Comment

                  • 63-4drpost
                    Experienced
                    • Feb 14 2009
                    • 160

                    #10
                    seal

                    Don't you ever change the oil?? (just kidding)
                    i used to have a thing to install the upper rear main seal, called "chinese finger".was a wire mesh type thing that went over the crank first and pulled the seal into place. I think the retaining pin you refered to is in the cap if used at all. Just so you know, I have installed those rear seals on my back on a creeper! many years ago, no more!!
                    Don't you love those 430s!!! plenty of power, I used to drag race my dad's 58 Mercury Montery 383 against 390 Galaxies. usually beat them in a drag, always outran them for top-end.

                    Comment

                    • vernz
                      Experienced
                      • Jul 12 2008
                      • 224

                      #11
                      It really looked grungy in there didn't it. The good news was that there wasn't much crud in the oil pan and the oil pump screen was pretty clean.
                      The mechanic who provided the lift and helped me out couldn't find the handle to his "chinese finger" tool so he resorted to the screw. It worked.
                      I still need to do some work on both my 430's to get the full stock potential out of them. I'm going to rebuild the carbs, give them a good tune up and install electronic ignition. I know there is a lot more power in there that I'm not seeing yet. I sure do love the sound of a big V8 though. Now to find some good 98 octane gas.....maybe i can attach some wings and drive out to the airport.
                      Vern

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