Hark_Z

iTrader: (12)

I have everything out-D/S, tranny, flexplate is off etc and I have a new fel-pro rear main seal to go on. My question is this..after searching I noticed that many people not only replace the rubber piece but the whole rear main seal gasket as well. My car hasnt ran in months and is all apart so it's hard to tell where the oil is gonna come from. The intake gasket was just replaced so it's not that. I really don't even have the money or time to get the rear main seal gasket..Shouldn't the rubber piece be the source of the problem? Anyone that's had a rear main leak, what did you find?

Hark_Z

iTrader: (12)

bump

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

I don't think there is such a thing as a Rear-Main Gasket..

You have the Seal, Seal Housing that is Aluminum, and the Oil Pan Gasket that sits on the bottom of the Seal Housing.

Rocky70304

iTrader: (4)

What merv said is right, usually the rear main seal and teh gasket for the seal housing come together...

fergymoto

iTrader: (129)

There is a gasket that goes between the rear seal housing and the block. When you buy a Felrpo part number BS-40520 it comes with the rear seal and the housing gasket.

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

^^Yea.. I remember it. It's been a min since I have done my LT1 assembly..

gatorhead

iTrader: (4)

Did you check to see if maybe the leak was coming from your oil sending unit? I know its a bit off topic but very relevant. Another place to check would be the oil cooler located just above the oil filter.

nighthawk15

Not to hijack, but when I pulled my rear main seal I didn't notice a gasket in there, just a place for the seal to go and when I asked at the dealer if it was supposed to have a gasket I was told no, it wasn't even in the computer in the parts center from what I was told. As stated above I even checked all around when I pulled it and saw nothing that looked like a gasket It's been in there since September and there is no leak but I'm a little worried now about if I was supposed to have a gasket........

Hark_Z

iTrader: (12)

Sorry for any confusion I guess I was just referring to the rubber seal as the gasket. And thanks gatorhead. I am gonna put a new seal in, clean the car up everywhere and let it run and see if I still have a problem and where.

BOLO

iTrader: (40)

I know you recently replaced your intake manifold, but reach out to the back of the intake manifold where it meets with block/cylinderheads for fresh oil. This is the infamous LT1 oil leak area. If it is, redo intake, and apply liberal amount of silicone to the area. Let it sit 24 hrs before startup. Good luck.

gatorhead

iTrader: (4)

NP Brandon anytime! You know I like to help keep these cars up and running without all the frustration

Hark_Z

iTrader: (12)

I do have a question, how much oil is going to come out when I take off the rear main housing, I see I have to there is no way the seal is popping out with a flat-head.

Hark_Z

iTrader: (12)

Edit: Now I can see there is one pesky screw on each side that goes thru the housing on the oil pan, sigh this will be messy.

gatorhead

iTrader: (4)

You should probably drain your oil unless you like to work in a puddle of used oil. Even when its drained there will be some residual oil that will come out. Just be sure the mating surfaces are dry and CLEAN when you put it back together.

Hark_Z

iTrader: (12)

This isn't the exact replacement kit that I have, mine has one more gasket on it, (another full thin nylon piece). Now, I should be using a gasket sealant of course, right?

Hark_Z

iTrader: (12)

Wondering how in the heck I can get the housing assembly off as pictured there's two contradicting screws here. I took a lot of bolts off the oil pan as well but it isn't going to budge. It's dark but you can see the lower screw looks the same on the other side.

cnorton

iTrader: (1)

The studs that are pictured have an inverted torx area at the tip. Use a small 6-point socket (I don't recall the size at the moment but it's a 1/4", very small socket) to remove all three of the studs you're talking about. They will come out without a lot of trouble. The oil pan will still need to be separated from the seal housing but at least the studs will be out of the way.

Hark_Z

iTrader: (12)

Thanks

nighthawk15

ohhhhhhhhh that gasket.....crap, when I had heard of rear main seal gaskets before I thought it would be a gasket that went in right before or after the seal.....for some reason I didn't even realize that was a gasket Oh well, hopefully it won't give me any problems before my clutch goes, which won't be for a while since its pretty dam new. Is this likely to cause me problems? My car has 83k on it.

Sory again about hijacking, I swear I'm done after this post

engineermike

Just like the timing chain cover, you're going to have to drop the pan down quite a bit to get the rear main seal housing off. If you don't, you'll damage the oil pan gasket. Take all the oil pan bolts out, except for the front 2 and loosen those 2. The rear main seal housing will come right out then.

Mike