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smilie in place of the real @
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...opening the back lid?
I have had those same thoughts about putting a rear seal into the tail shaft of a tr3, either by removing the whole tail shaft or trying to get the seal out with the trany in place. I have not got under the car and really studied the situation. Heck if it was not for the apron, I would pull the engine and trans together, but I have just pulled the trany out from inside the cockpit a few times.
Anyways I have pulled those seals out in every way mentioned above, and one thing is always true be very careful of the case. Do not put a tool between the seal and the case because a good size scratch in the case will leak. Plus there might be one there now, so when you reinstall the new seal check and just for insurance put something on the outside of the seal like aviation gasket sealer or something like that.
steve
Maybe I'm just too finicky and cautious, but I had one heck of a time getting that seal out, even with the differential out of the car. The center pinion is in the way, and mangling the seal would seem to have involved marring and maybe mangling the seal housing. I was able, finally, to use an improvised puller where shoulders of the pulling rods tucked under the seal ridges and the center stud pressed on the pinion shaft. Needless to say, it was a small, compact puller. Hope that's not too obtuse an explanation.