Greetings. I'm new to the forum. I'm just beginning the process of replacing the rear main oil seal. The oil pan is off and as I look at the two bolts on the rear main, it looks like they won't clear the lip to which the oil pan attaches, or is it just my imagination?



thanks,

Randy in Maryland

'59 Ford Galaxie Town Sedan

Hi, welcome to the forum. Have you scraped off the pan gasket? Look for two bolts in the aluminum seal retainer....some are hex head socket bolts, some are 12 point bolts. Once you remove those two bolts you can wiggle or gently pry the retainer out. That gets you the easy lower half of the seal. Try the search function as this is a common problem with lots of tips on changing the seal....not an easy task and often not the hoped for results. I hope this was the info you wanted.   Barry L

Might help to check down previous topiC, DAMN OIL LEAK .   

Damn oil leak thread 

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

The main cap bolts are close to the rear seal retainer but do clear assuming you’ve got all the original parts and some haven’t been switched out in the past.  If the seal retainer sits level with the pan gasket surface of the block, then just take a feeler gauge and insure that the main cap bolts are indeed sitting just below the retainer to be on the safe side.  It’s important that the seal retainer fits securely to the block without interference issues or there will be an oil leak between the seal retainer and the block itself.

 

And welcome to the site!

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Is there another panel I need to remove, or is removing the oil pan all that is required? Looks like there's a panel that runs from the block to the torque converter.



Randy

?? Do you mean the inspection plate ? its only a few bolts take it off it easier to work with if not there.



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

I removed the plate, which revealed the torque converter, but saw that it slightly overlapped where the oil pan attaches. Removed some old gasket material and found what I was looking for. Now to find the right socket to get in there.

Looks like I have to grind down a socket to be paper thin to loosen the bolts in the seal cap. Is that 3/8 or 5/16?

If like mine [292] should be a 3/8 12 point socket, if you can get a 3/8 drive no probs;;



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Sounds good. Thanks.