RE: rear main seal not accessible!!!

[uwss]

Rear main seal must be leaking due to all the oil coming out the back of the motor and bell housing. I have a scatter shield on the 440 motor. I removed the oil pan. The scatter shield vents interfere with getting a socket on the bolt.

Has anyone ran across this before ? Not going to send it back to the engine builder, he had it for 2 months and it came back the same way, leaking; I am talking about pouring out not drip drip drip.

If the engine has to be pulled then I will part the car out;

 

[pjm8047]

I have a 383 with a 727.all i did is pulled 2 bolts rear main cap and the two bolts from bottom seal retainer.had no problems

 

[uwss]

Did you pull the main cap of just the bolts ?

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The bottom picture shows the 3/8 " socket sticking out past the hole. Any ideas ?

 

[pjm8047]

U try 1/4 socket? and yes pull the cap off.

 

[SublimeSixpack]

I'd consider using a die grinder to notch it for clearance.

 

[terzmo]

My hemi pored oil after a rebuild and after 2 unsuccessful replacements I went with a billet holder and seal from mancini...70.00...dropped the pan and windage tray..installed and is dry as new...took 12 thousandths off the holder also to make a tighter fit

 

[uwss]

I finally got it out; damn!!!! Question: when i pulled the seal out there was a lot of oil under the seal. Is this where the leak was ?

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[Wookie316]

Get a Viton seal. 440 Source sells them and a billet cap. Don't forget the bolts. Way better than the standard rubber one. Also a billet main cap like others suggest. Get a tube of "The Right Stuff" it works great for the sides of the cap. Just a very small dab on the ends of the seal is all you need. A little is Better. Photo you posted looks like WAY too much silicone in the sealing area.
I used a Viton seal and a billet cap on both my 400 Stroker and my 440 and both are leak free.
Good luck.

 

[uwss]

I didn't install this seal; the engine builder did. Guess he didn't do his homework on Mopars.
I bought the new billet cap and Viton seal.
Also, Hughes Engines said the windage tray is not necessary when you install a girdle. Anyone have an opinion ?

 

[440beep]

Oh geez!!! He didn't install the side seals!??!?!

I also used the Vinton seal and mine is leak free. That rear main seal also needs to go in correctly. Hopefully someone can post a picture of the way the seal is supposed to corectly face.

 

[uwss]

Damn thing leaked worst than a virgin on her wedding night.

 

[MarPar]

nevermind...

 

[A383Wing]

lip of seal should face front of engine. Service manual will have pictures

 

[uwss]

The instructions show the exact opposite. WTF?

 

[Hemirunner]

The instructions show the exact opposite. WTF?

That picture shows the seal in backwards.

 

[MarPar]

good info here...

http://www.hughesengines.com/Upload..._Seal_Installation_InstructionsJune2006.p df

and just for some reference, a vid building a 440. nevermind the stupid-*** cowl hood on the Challenger in the beginning...

at 6:39, they show the orientation of the rear main



and if you fast forward to 8:19, it they talk about the rear main

[video]http://www.powerblocktv.com/episode/HP2008-03/ufc-street-fighter#.VhRL-CtmpLF[/video]

 

[Hemirunner]

Test fit that billet seal holder prior to trying to install it. Most need a bunch of die grinding to clear the main cap nuts and stud.

 

[terzmo]

I didn't install this seal; the engine builder did. Guess he didn't do his homework on Mopars.
I bought the new billet cap and Viton seal.
Also, Hughes Engines said the windage tray is not necessary when you install a girdle. Anyone have an opinion ?

View attachment 280377View attachment 280378

The windage tray is to prevent oil splashing on the crank...the girdle is to strenghthen the bottom end...keep both...that looks like the holder I just used and my hemi is NOT leaking any more...just the PS pump/box now....Geeze

 

[uwss]

I finally got it all put back together; what a job. I put the windage tray back in too. The only issue I had was on of the oil pan bolts was stripped out; and of course its right above the K frame so it is not easily accessible. I am going to use loctite thread repair on this. I watched a video on you tube and it looked like a good fix for just an oil pan bolt.

 

[Yatzee]

I have a girdle on my 512 stroker and "no" i didn't need a windage tray. I bought a replacement billet holder for the rear seal ( you can find them from multiple suppliers ) but when I installed the seal I rotated it slightly so the seams in the seal and the seams created by the holder did not line up horizontally. About three degrees. The "Right Stuff" is the only silicon to use here as it is inert to fuel and oil.