Guys, I have some pretty nasty oil leaks. They look like a combination of poor oil pan seal (Chrome Spectre job) and rear main leak. I have the fel-pro one piece oil pan seal in it now. My question is can someone tell me if and how the rear main and oil -pan gaskets can be re-done with the engine in the car? HELP my evacuated self keeps leaving stains in Brother in Laws driveway.


MaTt

Take off the pan, take off the rear main cap, tap the old upper seal with a punch, grab it with needle nose pliers when it comes out the other side, slide the new one up in there, put the new lower one on the cap, dab of sealer on each end, put the cap back on, put the pan back on. Chrome pans always seem to leak.


You will have to jack up the engine and pull the motor mount bolts, easiest with an engine hoist but can be done with a jack on the balancer or even worse with a bumper jack hooked on the front pulley-thats how I did it to change one cylinder piston rings on my 69 Camaro when I was broke and the cars were cheap.
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[This message has been edited by Daniel (edited October 19, 2005).]

Daniel... That is creative to change a set of rings from under the car!

I wouldn't use a jack on the balancer or front pulley. IMO, Too much risk of getting your arm/hand trapped under an engine if the jack slips.

Just put a couple of short 2x4's between the rubber mounts and the frame mounts on each side to keep it from falling down AND pinning you!

And I think it helps to clock the damper at 5:00 to raise the front counterweights up to give the front of the pan more clearance.

AND make 4 long alignment headless bolts so you can align the pan as it goes in place too.

In other words put it up in there, install the bolts through the pan and then push it up into place AND start the correct corner bolts first.

It will help hold the gasket(s) in place too....

pdq67

You should probably go with a "repair style" rear main seal. Over time the rear main seal cuts a narrow groove into the crank which creates a leak path. A repair seal touches the crank is a different place so as to start fresh. Fel Pro makes one, ask the guy behind the parts counter in a REAL auto parts store (not one of those fancy retail "auto parts" joints that look like drugstores).

Mike,

I didn't know that!

Thanks!!

pdq67

Take a good look at your oil pressure fitting. I had a bad leak and assumed the worst. Changed the rear main, put everything back together and walla same oil leak. The fitting for the autometer oil pressure gauge came loose. I would get a one piece oil pan gasket thou. It costs a little more but it's well worth it.