Rear Main Seal

[gafletch]

What's the procedure for replacing a rear main seal on a 440 auto that's in the car?  Thanks!

[mopar jack]

On an E body I like to drain the oil the night before I start the job then the next day disconnect the drag link at the pitman arm pull the oil pan and hopefully you won't have a lot of oil dripping in your face. Next pull the rear main seal holder, if the seal is a rope seal you can push the top half around the crank or use a hook to pull it out. There are a couple of different replacement seal and you need to follow there instructions for re-installing

[AARTA340]

Here is thread on your oil seal project. Good luck.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Number=6890472

[74 challenge]

I followed the instructions posted above last year and it was super easy, the hardest part was removing the bolt from the pitman arm.

I took my time and did it over a weekend with a few beers.

[gafletch]

Great input guys. I'm gonna leave it to an experienced mechanic, lol.

[Mopar Mitch]

When you install the side seals (side strips) make sure you soak them with mineral spirits so that they will swell after they're installed... there is tolerance in the sizes of the cavity... that's why these seals MUST be soaked to allow swelling to fill the cavity.   Avoid using RTV as it will not cure in the mid-section of the cavity (it needs air and moisture to cure).

[daveh]

Those were great instructions.  Does anyone have instructions like that for a 340?  Thanks

Dave

[Chryco Psycho]

If they include the side strips , the Fel Pro seals now have pipe cleaners instead of the fiber side strips ..... WTF

[Mopar Mitch]

If the rear seal set has the pipe cleaners instead of the fiber side seals, then.. the reason is that the instructions would/should call out to fill the cavities with RTV (a small tube of RTV should also be included in the set with a long/narrow pointed end), and pre-soak the pipe cleaners with water, then insert the pipe cleaners into each cavity and let it remain there as installed... that will allow the RTV to cure by having moisture present.  When I worked for FP years ago, that was an alternative sealing choice we had.. so.. it may now be the current situation as packaged.  (Also, I believe the fiber side strips were being sourced and they were relatively costly, possibly eventually discontinued by the supplier.)