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71 383 Rear Main Seal

Max Stryker

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May 16, 2014
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Location
Arkansas
Any advice or tips for replacing this thing would be greatly appreciated.
 
It seems to be a common problem that the rear main seal leaks. My 69 Charger even leaked after I had my entire engine rebuilt.
 
The do make a "Sneaky Pete" tool where you can use this wire to pull the new seal through. Problem is you have to still drop the oil pan and the lower seal cap.
 
I'm in the same boat.
x2

I´ll replace it next week

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I do not have any tricks but I have completed this in all my mopars. Worst thing is crossmember had to be dropped cause it was in the way of my pans being dropped. I had to be very careful when dropping it. Did not want to damage dust covers on the idler arm or drag link. Next was the pan. One came off nicely, The others were hard to break free. Once the pan was off, I had to loosen more than the rear cap to get old seal out and new seal in. Removed rear cap and used bottom half of old seal to push top half of old seal out of block seal groove. Also, used it to push new seal in. I never leave seals flush with caps or blocks so I had 3/8 inch hanging out of block at one end and 3/8 inch of seal into groove to make sure ends of seals were not flush with the edges of block or cap.
Then followed procedure to install oil pan and all other parts I took off. Hope this helps. IMHO, not tough, just messy. Have had no leaks (knock on wood) so far with any of my fixes.
 
You guys think Rear Main Seal Repair (stop leak) is worth looking into. I don't want to mess this new performance motor up, but i've heard good things about the product. Thoughts?
 
I would pull the motor only because it's easier.... clean the surfaces good and then polish the seal surface with 400 grit or finer paper and clean then use some brake cleaner I put a small amount of sealer on the block and cap surfaces and tabs I will wipe just the crank with motor oil just before reassembly... let it set up for a day before starting the motor.... if you can't pull the motor you make excuses why it leaks a hundred miles later or what ever.... good time to do a front seal on the trans pump or throw out bearing or whatever while you're in there... there is no quick fix
 
Mine leaked still AFTER I had the engine rebuilt. Just seems to be a common thing. Our 70 El Camino SS 396 did it. Our 71 Buick Skylark GS convertible did it.
 
Just because someone rebuilt the engine doesn't mean they took care of the seal properly.... I would wonder what else was not properly done.
 
The guy who did my engine is a well known Hemi guy who specializes in Chrysler engines. I'm pretty certain he knows what he is doing. It just seems to be one of the weak areas. Lets face it that seal is under pressure as opposed to the front seal. If you get a piece of dirt or something in there chances are it will start to leak eventually.
 
Hey Max... to answer your last question, I tried several products that were supposed to work on the rear main seal. I think they only soften it until maybe something plug the hole. I have not found anything that stops the rear main seal from leaking except, you guessed it, replacement. TMTCW
 
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