In my 55 Mercury with a 292, do I have to pull the motor just to replace the rear main seal/pan gasket? If I do, I am guessing it might as well be a good time to go through the motor and replace all the gaskets, get stuff chromed and painted. Neoprene rear main seals? From "Best Gasket"? Any help/suggestions would be great.

Kev



Loving my Y!

Kevin Walshe

Costa Mesa, California

If you buy a FelPro complete set it comes with a neoprene rear seal.  If you can drop the pan in your car you can change the seal without pulling the engine.  I would say once you have the engine out it would be a good idea to change all gaskets, but then what about the other stuff?  Rings, bearings, cam?  If you are sure everything is good in your engine leave it alone but if you aren't when it's out would be the time to do the job right.

Just saying.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

Thanks Tim, I will just replace the rear main seal and pan gasket for now. Everything should be in good working order for right now. I will eventually rebuild it from the ground up once I am done with school in 6 months. Do I take off the all the steering, stabilizer bar and pull it out the back, or do I remove it by pulling it out the front? I have never done a rear main seal, let alone on a 55 year old car. I am just worried about messing something up. Thanks again

Kev



Loving my Y!

Kevin Walshe

Costa Mesa, California

Someone else will have to tell you how to drop the pan, I'm  pickup guy and don't know how the cars work.   As for the seal it will more than likely be a "rope" style seal which will be a little tough to get out of the block. They use to make a tool called a "Sneaky Pete" that had a screw to pull the old seal out and a thing like a finger cuff to pull the new one in.  Installing the neoprene seal will be relatively easy but you will need to fashion a screw type tool to pull the old rope out, if you break it a part no big deal as long as you can get all the pieces out just try not to bugger up the crank or block.

Good Luck!

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

Kevin:

The pan comes forward to get it out.  It may be necessary to take the nuts off the bottoms of the front engine mounts and jack the engine up and put a piece of something about an inch thick between the  mounts and the frame.  The front stabilizer mount, if it is still on your car, will have to be unhooked.  You may also have to turn the crankshaft to get the throws to clear the pan flange as you bring it forward.  But it will come out.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Johns right, turn crank to No1 on TDC, drop both sway bar front mounts and oil pump nut, loosen big retaining nut on side of sump also, makes it a bit easier and out she comes.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Just to add, it also helps you install the new seal if you turn the crank while feeding it in. Lube it up good and try not to cut it going in.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

Thanks guys! I am going to order the gaskets through "Best Gasket", I've read on other posts that these are the best. Thanks again!

Kev



Loving my Y!

Kevin Walshe

Costa Mesa, California

Kevin: Even though Best is in CA, you may have to order from their dealer list.

Paul