I have a 65 Special 300 with 51K mi. The oil pan is leaking so I got a new gasket and polypropylene rear main seal to install. I dropped the pan and found that several bolts were way over tightened pinching the gasket which appears to be the source of the leak. The rear crank flange and flex plate are dry so the rope seal appears to be doing it's job. Question: Should I replace the rope seal anyway while I'm in there or let sleeping dogs lie?? Also, if anyone has a NICE 300/340/350 oil pan I'm interested (ie one that hasn't been stretched by over tightened bolts, dented or rusted) .
A lot of guys are anti-rope seal and say to get rid of them every chance you have and other guys say if it's not leaking, leave it alone. I'm trying to get some sort of consensus on what you guys think.
