Well I just replaced the rear main from the old style to the reverse lip style. It definitely sits back further on the shaft than the old seal, I have it bottomed out in the cover. How does it look?

 

It was supposed to be flush. Those dents on the cover were where to pry out the old one. Should work OK I guess though.

 

Yeah I pryed it out easy at those points but those were different style seals, I can't see how having the seal flush with the cover and not flush with the back could be good, or how you could expect it to ever bee 100% even without it resting on the back, inside lip of the rear cover?

 

It should be bottomed out in the cover not flush with the outside. You put it on correctly. I think the idea is to seal on a new surface farther in than the original spot incase some grooves or small ammount of damage caused the stock one to start leaking.

 

Awesome! Thank you now I feel better I can install the clutch. I didn't lube the OD of the seal and it went on easy I'm surprised some recommend that.

 

Who makes this and what's the pn. I bought a timken seal from auto zone that came with a white ring for when I change my clutch. I think mine is the original style.

 

That is a GM reverse lip, the new style, on a 06 GTO LS2. It comes in a white retainer ring, the ring is what keeps the seal lip in the right position and help you align.

 

I would also use a dab of black RTV silicone sealant in the corners where the rear cover, oil pan, and block all meet to keep oil from seeping out. Use the rear cover bolts to pull the cover flush but not tight against the block then tighten the bottom bolts to pull it down onto the pan gasket then tighten the rear cover bolts to the block. I done mine this way and it was dry for 10k miles until I pulled the engine.

 

I didn't remove the rear cover because I was just swapping pans but I cleaned the flanges and used a small bead at all four corners at the block/cover/pan joints.

 

That's fine. As the cover was already centered, it's still centered.