Rear main seal leak

[attack on track]

I have a rear main seal leak in my 99 454. I have lost 1.75 quarts since April (or 1,330 miles).

I have a choice to have someone fix it, or save the money and build a replacement.

My question to everyone here is; which would you do?

I plan on having the truck forever. Pull boats or toys once it's healthy. It currently has 221200 miles.

I appreciate any insight, and thank you in advance.

 

[Tavi]

Depends on your mechanical abilities. The engine and transmission will need to be separated. And the flexplate/flywheel removed. It’s a 1 piece. So it should remove from the rear. Not needing to remove the oil pan and rear main cap.

 

[Hipster]

When I got mine it was dumping out the rear main. I jerked the engine and bought a full gasket set and timing chain, resealed it, and dropped it back in. Way easier for my old decrepit body to pull the engine and put it on a stand then wrestle a trans/transfer case around. With a little help out and in a weekend. That was 8 years ago @228. Odometer quit 4 years ago at 278 and it's still rolling.

If the engine is sound otherwise I'd do the main/gaskets and keep rolling.

 

[c1500deathtrap]

just drop the tranny and change the seal. Find a buddy with a lift or borrow a tranny jack.

 

[attack on track]

Thank you!

 

[attack on track]

I decided to have someone drop the tranny and fix the seal. Originally, I was told incorrect information--why I didn't think it was as "simple". I greatly appreciate everyones reply.

 

[Jared Jackson]

just drop the tranny and change the seal. Find a buddy with a lift or borrow a tranny jack.

It would be ideal to let that seal leak (if it wasn't a burdon) until the tranny pooped. I would rather stab a new tranny back than remove/install an old tranny. However, the world never deals in "ideal" situations.

I like the previous suggestion of pulling the engine. I would love to do that and clean up the engine/engine bay.

 

[JackE]

A few months ago I had the same issue. It turned out to be the oil pan gasket leaking not the rear main, so I pulled the engine. A few grand later, I installed a completely rebuilt engine back in the Suburban. I went in thinking it would be a fairly easy fix, but the deeper I got in, the more I found wrong until I just decided to do the complete rebuild. I'm very glad I did it, now I know for certain what condition my engine is in.

 

[c1500deathtrap]

Don't fix it if it ain't broke. Or you'll wind up fixing it until it is broke. Just replace the seal and get on with it.

 

[attack on track]

All great insight!! Thanks!!

Yes. Knowing for certain what the condition would be at the end of a rebuild was the appeal in it.

Since it runs fine otherwise, I am going with the "fix whats wrong, and move on". Save pennies for when it really rains.

Thanks again.