Changing out clutch among other things. Motor is out of car, so I'll take adavantage and change the rear main seal. The haynes book says I have to remove the rear cover, but I see the rear main has slots so I can remove the old seal from the cover. Can I just pry it out with a screw driver and replace the seal? Oh, btw, it's a 2000 ls1 block.
Thanks!

 

That's what I would do, take care not to scratch the sealing flange on the crankshaft if so.

 

hey can you post pics of the process?

 

Okay, I'll take some pictures while I do the work. Won't be until tomorrow. If anyone else has any tips, let me know before tomorrow. It looks super easy, but just want to make sure.
Thanks!

 

right now i have a leak. good feeling it is the main seal. but dont really have the tools to do it. so just waiting on you with the pics

 

Okay, but don't forget I have the motor out of the car. If your car is running, you would have to drop the tranny, and remove the clutch, flywheel to access it.

 

well its an auto but yea i see what your saying

 

sorry, I wasn't able to do the rear main replacement yesterday. Family responsibilities won the priority battle.
I did manage to get the pilot bearing out very easily. I was really worried, cuz I had read that it was a pain. I tried something that ended up making it a snap.
I'll have to do the rear main next weekend.

 

sweet

 

how did you get the pilot bearing out so easy man?? those are just about always a HUGE PITA! an easy way would be killer.

also would really like to see some rear main seal pics too, my clutch is getting pretty tired....

 

If you had a leak you might want to replace the oil plug while you have the pilot bearing out. Sometimes that plug is the cause.

 

You can change the rear main seal that way, that is what I did. I haven't started the motor yet but I am sure it will be fine. Make sure you read the seal where it says this side out. My rear main seal did come with a gasket for the rear cover so... I guess they want you to take it off but it worked fine for me, sat in there and didn't damage a thing.

 

take the cover off. you dont want to mess up anything and cause anymore work down the road. thats what i would do anyway.