Real main seal replacement

[Jeeper Al]

Has anyone ever R&R'd their rear main seal in their V8? Will the oil pan come off without having to loosen the motor mount bolts(stock suspension height)?

Any details I need to know before I start?

[Iron Horse]

There is a good write up in the tech articles section. But to answer your question yes it is easy (relatively) to do. Your oil pan can be manuvered around and out from the passenger side....even with stock suspension.

[joe]

There's a write-up from the factory TSM in the /tech/ section of this site.
You don't need to deal with the motor mounts but jack the rig up by the frame in the front and support it w/jack stands so the front axle hangs down for oil pan clearance. On later rigs you may have to remove the starter and/or loosen the exhaust? Otherwise it's a pretty easy(but messy) job. DON'T bang the old seal out with a steel screw driver, use a brass drift. If you bugger up the blocks surface you're screwed :(
Cleanleness and where you put the RTV goop counts here so take your time and get right the first time smile.gif

[shadowfax101]

Nice Sig pic......How deep was that in the middle?

[Jeeper Al]

:D Thanks!
It was just over the top of my tires...lol
About a foot of that is mud. The pic was taken in North-Central PA in the mountains several weeks ago.

[porchpiggy]

Al - the one thing I ran into is the crossover pipe in my 88GW made it very difficult to get the pan out. It can be done, but in the end I think I struggled more with the pan then the energy it would take to undo the crossover. :cool: