I am trying to install a rear main seal in my LS1 engine. It has a stock Corvetter crank and 98 Corvette rear engine cover. I tried to take the rubber seal out of the rear cover, but it really doesn't look like it comes out. The Haynes manual was little help. Any suggestions, or is there a trick to this?

Also, the replacement seal I received looks nothing like the seal that is in the rear engine cover... perhaps I got the wrong part at the stealership? Maybe there are two seals... one that rides on the crank and another that sits in the rear cover?

Sorry I really don't have a clue on this... The front seal was easy, but the rear seal has me stumped.

Thanks! -Dave

 

If the cover is still bolted to the engine there are two small notches in the cover around the outer edge of the seal that you can use to pry the seal out with. To me that was too much of a pain so I took the cover out and just tapped it out with a screwdriver. My new one from GM looked a little different than the one that was in my engine, but once they were both out and next to each other they were the same.

 

Ahh cool... well that makes me feel a little better. The cover is off the engine so I will continue to pry. How did you install yours? I have a book that suggests using a special tool to squarely slide the seal onto the crank... a tool which of course I don't have.

 

Little help?

 

I set my cover on some wood blocks and heated the cover with a torch. I then tapped around with a small screwdriver and it popped out after a few taps.

Now I'm afraid to put the new seal back in. I read the factory service manual and it looked very complicated.

What ever happened to easy??????????

Bob K.

 

A lot of people just use a flat piece of wood to make sure you hammer it back on evenly. Or, you could buy the tool. Up to you.

 

The other option is send me the cover, seal and 15 dollars plus shipping and we will install it.

Kurt

 

That is what I would do...

Also, see this link...

http://www.gmhightechperformance.com...ne_covers.html

 

Hey thanks a lot for the help guys... that link to the GM High Peformance site was very very helpful. I would consider sending this to W2W but I need to put the engine together this weekend.