Rear Main Seal Replacement Instructions:

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by sean Buick 76, Nov 21, 2006.

  1. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    The rope rear seals in these Buick 350 motors leak.. TA performance sells the neoprene seal kit and here are the instructions I wrote based on my succesfull install! No more leaks.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 14, 2008
  2. 68lesabre

    68lesabre Well-Known Member

    Just read your instructions since my 350 has the same problem. Just one question, what do you mean by "rtv". This is something I can't translate into Dutch :Do No:

    Thanks
     
  3. 69cloner

    69cloner MoparKilluh

  4. chryco63

    chryco63 14's or bust!

    RTV = Room Temperature Vulcanizing sealant. Basically, gasket in a tube.
     
  5. RG67BEAST

    RG67BEAST Platinum Level Contributor

    RTV must be good. At an engine plant I worked at (one of the big 3) a robot lays a bead on the engine (in 2 seconds) for the pan. No gasket involved for both alum. pans and steel. The line has a 17 sec. cycle time. The pans are then placed on then bolts and tightened down. No retorqing involved.
    Good Stuff!
    Ray
     
  6. 69cloner

    69cloner MoparKilluh

    i read your instructions and find them very detailed and extremely informing..
    However you mentioned at the very end about dropping the motor back in.
    Is it possible to replace the rear main seals on a 350-2 without having to remove the engine and/or transmission??
     
  7. 87GN@Tahoe

    87GN@Tahoe Well-Known Member

    sure it's just a pain in the rear :spank:
     
  8. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    Yeah, you can do it with the motor in the car. I've also done it this way and it was not too hard to do. If you un bolt the motor mounts and lift the motor preferably with a hoist you can get a few inches higher than it normally sits which is all you need to get the oil pan off. I took my harmonic ballancer off but you may not need to. You will need good lighting and a roller makes the job more comfortable. Other than that it is the same this way.

    Believe it or not I once changed the oil pan gasket without unbolting the motor mounts. It was a terible experience and I didn't think about raising the motor, thought I'd have to pull it. You live and learn and thats why I wrote those intructions because I could not get specific info on how to change the rear main before I attempted it.

    I have changed it in the car, so give it a shot.

    Sean
     
  9. 69cloner

    69cloner MoparKilluh

    Thnx Sean I really appreciate all the help..
    I really screwed up when the tranny guys warned me about it...
    They had the tranny out and brought to my attention that the engine was gummed up and the bottom rope seal is half gone.
    After about 30 minutes of driving and if i mash motor I'll leave a James Bond smoke screen.. LOL
    Thnx again for the info and if i'm not heard from in 48 hours then the car collapsed on me and I'm in Buick heaven.. :af: :eek: :af: :eek:
     
  10. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    I 'm sure the Buick gods will help you through it!
     
  11. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    You alive budy?
     
  12. 69cloner

    69cloner MoparKilluh

    yeah im alive...
    I wimped out on the job... it dropped to 18 degrees here over the weekend
    So i printed out your instructions and took it to challenger automotive to have it done.. I had 2 days to devote to replacing the main seal and it had gotten quite arctic around here.. cold concrete will give me roids LOL :af:
    Plus i can't find my torque wrench.. hehe
     
  13. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    It has warmed up to -10 in the afternoon here but still -15 at night Ft Mcmurray Alberta.
     
  14. 69cloner

    69cloner MoparKilluh

    yeah now it warmed up to 55 degrees and its gona be in the 60's over the weekend ... now i'm pissed...... coulda saved 600 bux... :af:

    oh well... sigh. atleast its getting fixed i've dropped too much money in this car to not be able to drive it.. its keeps spitting oil all over my new headers .
    plus when your pride n joy plumes hooopty smoke it makes you feel like a retard atleast it does me.. Its a serious blow to ones ego to drive such a sexy old car and have it look like it has major problems while going down the road..
    nobody wants to drive behind you and the ricers think you're gona break down if they toy with ya.. LOL
    The embarassment is my motivation. The car is such a head turner for being in such raw condition.. When they see smoke i feel like theyre laughing at me..
    Drives me f$#%^in nuts in more ways then one.. Not to mention the constant refiulling of oil.. In the 90's i could keep pouring oil into a chevy 350 and a ford 302 and keep on trucking.. today its not so cost efficient. i usually go thru a case of oil every 4 months.. with this leak im going thru a case of oil every 25 days. i'm just sick of it. poor lil lark sat for too long & now that i got ahold of it and did my mods shes gettin a legful of a workout[without ragging her out ofcourse]
    Now that she's jacked up in the back and you can see underneath her you can see where the oil is starting to discolor my brand spanking new exhaust...
    ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGG!!!!!
    i should have her back tomrrow afternoon and i'm gona drive her everyday for a month str8 to express my love for her..
    My girlfriend of 5 years accused me of loving the car more than her the other day.. I answered with ."So whats your point?"
     
  15. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    Maybe your lady and mine can form a support group for abandondment issues due to our garage activities.....
     
  16. 69cloner

    69cloner MoparKilluh

    nah keep them guessin.. LOL
    Itll keep'em on their toes and go the extra mile when it comes to buying us tools for xmas. :grin:
     
  17. 69cloner

    69cloner MoparKilluh

    oh and $637.50 later and no more oil leak...
    He even cleaned out my oil pan in the parts washer and detarred my oil pickup.
    I wish i had thought about getting a bigger oil pickup befire all this.

    Someday ill learn to properly plan ahead when getting work done.
    Someday.
     
  18. IDOXLR8

    IDOXLR8 Senior Member

    Who did you rear main? AL.
     
  19. 69cloner

    69cloner MoparKilluh

    challenger used to be dave's mobile
    on mountain rd
     
  20. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    Bump for any new members who haven't read this.
     

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