Re: Rear Engine Seal

Posted by Mike Flanagan on June 20, 1997 at 01:41:59

In Reply to: Re: Rear Engine Seal
posted by John Cannon on June 19, 1997 at 11:40:47

: : My newly purchased 1930 Model A appears be leaking oil in front of the clutch housing.I was told it probably was the rear engine seal.Does this sound correct and if so how much money am I gonna have to pay to have it fixed???Also, do I take it to an engine shop or transmission shop??Any and all info would be appreciated.
: The rear main seal consists of a slinger ring on the crankshaft and a "labryinth" of areas in the rear main cap.Occasionally mechanics have turned down this slinger ring to accomodate everything from packing to a newer style neoprene seal.All have had successes and failures.If you remove the base pan to check the drain tube and babbit area of the rear main, check the center main also.It gets the most wear and any excess clearance there will cause a "pumping" of oil out of the rear main.There are many good articles in the repair books on this procedure.Also don't overlook the possibility of a leak at the rear camshaft bearing.It will drip in nearly the same area.The suggestions on cutting off the rear main tube is a good one.Good Luck!
John, personal experience has shown that a leak from the rear of the camshaft will exit the engine at a different location and in greater volume than a rear main. That is unless the rear main is really pumping. My camshaft leak came out of the flywheel housing at the line of the oil pan and block joint and dripped from the pan bolt on the right side of the crankshaft. And drip did it ever. After verifying that the gasket was in place and not on the bench I elected to plug the oil port running from the oil galley to the rear camshaft "bearing". The engines produced in '28/'29 had no hole and neither does my 31. 6000 miles later still no leak no problems. The interesting situations one gets into working on these old cars!!!!!!!!
God speed under 50.
Mike flanagan, The Model A Fool.

Follow Ups:
Re: Rear Engine Seal Bob Bernard June 20, 1997 at 12:34:14(1)
Re: Rear Engine Seal Mike flanagan June 20, 1997 at 22:17:05(0)

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