Re: 230 Rear main seal install question


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Posted by Matt Wilson on Thursday, September 04, 2003 at 1:59PM :

In Reply to: 230 Rear main seal install question posted by Drew M. on Thursday, September 04, 2003 at 10:49AM :

There are two types of seals that can go in the 230, and it may depend on which kind of seal you have.

Some engines have the two-piece seals that bolt onto the back side of the engine (actually the upper half uses 3 bolts to be retained to the block, while the lower half uses 3 bolts to be retained to the back of the rear main bearing cap).

Other engines have a different kind of two-piece seal. With this seal, the upper half fits into a groove in the block, while the lower half fits into a groove in the rear main cap. No bolts are necessary with this kind. They just snap in place.

My engine accepts either kind, and originally had the bolt-on type of seal when I first got the truck. I decided to switch from the bolt-on type of seal to groove type of seal (ordered from Vintage Power Wagons), and I did this with the engine in the truck. However, I did have the transmission and the flywheel removed at the time.

From what I recall, if you have the bolt-on kind, and if you do not remove the flywheel, I think it would be quite difficult to gain access to the bolts that retain the upper seal half. However, I think I have read that it is possible to do this with much persistence.

On the other hand, I think the groove type of seal can be accessed with the flywheel still installed, but you will have to remove the oil pan, and probably loosen all of the main bearing caps, and remove the transmission so that you can lower the back end of the crankshaft somewhat. Don't allow the back end of the crankshaft to hang down, supported only by the front bearing caps, as this may break the bearing caps and/or damage the bearing shells (there's lots of leverage there, you know...). Therefore, you will need to support the weight of the crankshaft/flywheel assembly with a jack or by other means. The groove type of seal just snaps in place once you have clearance between the rear cap, crankshaft and block.

If you can avoid removing the transmission, and still gain access to the groove seals, then perhaps you can change them without too much trouble, but it's doubtful.

That's my take on the situation.

Good luck,


Matt



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