Rear main seal replacement

[demetrio bazan]

So my dad's friend took a look in the ole' 350 and said it was the rear main seal. Wondering how hard is it to change it myself and how long it will take

 

[JackE]

You have 2 options, drop the tranny, or pull the engine. Changing the seal only takes about 5 minutes. 10 hours in and out for a 5 minute fix. Kinda sucks, but there is no quick way. Make sure it is the seal and not the oil pan gasket. Last year I finally decided to drop the tranny to fix my rear seal leak. About 30 minutes into it I could tell it wasn't the seal, but the oil pan. I changed direction and pulled the engine. Then, "while I was in there," I did a full rebuild on the engine.

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

Last year I finally decided to drop the tranny to fix my rear seal leak. About 30 minutes into it I could tell it wasn't the seal, but the oil pan. I changed direction and pulled the engine. Then, "while I was in there," I did a full rebuild on the engine.

Ah, yes, the dreaded "while I was in there" (AKA "might as well") disease, know it well!

 

[Cokeman95]

Ah, yes, the dreaded "while I was in there" (AKA "might as well") disease, know it well!

That gets expensive fast. Changing U bolts turned into a rear end swap last year. Lol

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

Yep, my engine was running hot and losing some coolant - had a couple blown head gaskets - $7,000 later... STILL GOING!

 

[Thumper1311]

For conversations sake, will the pan come off with the engine just chillin in the engine bay? Or does it require an engine hoist? I dont remember if the cross member comes into play...but just about ever seal is leaking on my truck. Unfortunately i have no budget for "might as wells" right now lol

 

[demetrio bazan]

You have 2 options, drop the tranny, or pull the engine. Changing the seal only takes about 5 minutes. 10 hours in and out for a 5 minute fix. Kinda sucks, but there is no quick way. Make sure it is the seal and not the oil pan gasket. Last year I finally decided to drop the tranny to fix my rear seal leak. About 30 minutes into it I could tell it wasn't the seal, but the oil pan. I changed direction and pulled the engine. Then, "while I was in there," I did a full rebuild on the engine.

We're 99.9% sure its the rear main seal because it drips right where the bellhousing is and he took a look at it

 

[demetrio bazan]

For conversations sake, will the pan come off with the engine just chillin in the engine bay? Or does it require an engine hoist? I dont remember if the cross member comes into play...but just about ever seal is leaking on my truck. Unfortunately i have no budget for "might as wells" right now lol

Think you'll have to remove the engine

 

[demetrio bazan]

Yep, my engine was running hot and losing some coolant - had a couple blown head gaskets - $7,000 later... STILL GOING!

Nice, for overheating issues run it Nascar style without a thermostat, mines clogged up, removed it and haven't had enough time to install a new one, been running like that for around 36,000 miles

 

[Thumper1311]

I was going to like your reply, but I don't LIKE your reply