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I would like to share my experience with the aftermarket kit to add a seal to the rear main crankshaft.
I purchased the kit in 1996 from Norman Nock and received all the tools, items, and instructions needed with one exception. I offer this report to help anyone else who is contemplating this project.
I recently retired and finally had the time and inclination to attempt installation of this kit. I removed the transmission, modified the rear engine plate with a sawzall!, put in a new clutch (the old one had started slipping and had oil on it), replaced the bushings for the rear steady bracket (these had dissolved from the oil soaking them, and rear transmission mounts (one of them had completely dissolved in oil). After installing the kit (I ruined the garter spring by trying to stretch it over the crank flange rather than connecting it after putting it on behind the flange (this cost $40 to get a replacement (had to buy a new seal to get the garter spring). After I got the second spring it went together easily. I used the head of a nail and my thumb to coax the spring into the groove of the seal.
After I reinstalled everything and started the engine, I immediately had a major oil leak (one drip per second) and shut it down. <span style="font-style: italic"> It really hurts when trying to fix a problem you create a worse one</span> After removing the trans and back plate, I discovered that my attempt to use RTV sealant rather than get a new gasket between the rear face of engine block and the rear engine plate failed miserably and oil was leaking from the cam bearing opening. Yes, I was an idiot not to replace the gasket, but I thought the sealant would do the job. Yes, I don't have much experience doing this. I recommend this seal kit, but offer this lesson from my experience in case anyone like me tries this. If anyone wants to contact me before they do this job, I'd be happy to share more.
I purchased the kit in 1996 from Norman Nock and received all the tools, items, and instructions needed with one exception. I offer this report to help anyone else who is contemplating this project.
I recently retired and finally had the time and inclination to attempt installation of this kit. I removed the transmission, modified the rear engine plate with a sawzall!, put in a new clutch (the old one had started slipping and had oil on it), replaced the bushings for the rear steady bracket (these had dissolved from the oil soaking them, and rear transmission mounts (one of them had completely dissolved in oil). After installing the kit (I ruined the garter spring by trying to stretch it over the crank flange rather than connecting it after putting it on behind the flange (this cost $40 to get a replacement (had to buy a new seal to get the garter spring). After I got the second spring it went together easily. I used the head of a nail and my thumb to coax the spring into the groove of the seal.
After I reinstalled everything and started the engine, I immediately had a major oil leak (one drip per second) and shut it down. <span style="font-style: italic"> It really hurts when trying to fix a problem you create a worse one</span> After removing the trans and back plate, I discovered that my attempt to use RTV sealant rather than get a new gasket between the rear face of engine block and the rear engine plate failed miserably and oil was leaking from the cam bearing opening. Yes, I was an idiot not to replace the gasket, but I thought the sealant would do the job. Yes, I don't have much experience doing this. I recommend this seal kit, but offer this lesson from my experience in case anyone like me tries this. If anyone wants to contact me before they do this job, I'd be happy to share more.