Update on installing my fastfish rear mail seal

[Russmacman]

Hello all. Pulled the engine out this weekend 400 big block. Fresh build and had an excessive rear main seal leak. Pulled off the seal cap looks like it was a one piece black rubber seal, but broke apart when removing the cap. Noticed that my crank is knurled on inside journal. Outside toward the flywheel as much more smooth. It looks like the wipe / lip part of the seal was riding over the knurled side and I feel it should've been towards the back of the engine, pretty much how my new seal from fast fish explains to. It looks like there are pot marks in the aluminum , like a bags casting and also three little bumps that stick up that look like they're equal space apart. May be they hold the seal from turning on crank. Should I be worried on the condition of that seal cap. Cleaning up everything now and any advice is always welcome and here's photos of the crank. thanks much.

 

[68-500]

That wouldn’t concern me. Whats the fat fish seal? The original rope seal in my 68 dont leak. Are they still available?

 

[Russmacman]

This is a seal the has 2 lip seals. From other members this was the best one they had no trouble with. Thank you. I'm guessing that the casting was not as nice as ones today. First time doing this and don't want to mess it up. Have never seen that knurled on a crank. Really don't know what is for.

 

[Cranky]

This is a seal the has 2 lip seals. From other members this was the best one they had no trouble with. Thank you. I'm guessing that the casting was not as nice as ones today. First time doing this and don't want to mess it up. Have never seen that knurled on a crank. Really don't know what is for.

The knurl on the crank is factory for a 'rope' seal which worked pretty well. Not so well with a lip seal. It needs to be polished off for the lip seal or go back to the rope/packing seal.

 

[Lefty71]

Really don't know what is for.

As explained, when using the rope seal, that knurl pulls the oil IN as the crank spins in the normal direction, preventing leakage while allowing the oil in that area to do its job lubricating.

 

[rickseeman]

Be sure to get the area where the RTV goes good and clean. (I use lacquer thinner.) I wouldn't use the side seals. I would use RTV there also. Seal it up real good. My friend had to put a Fastfish seal in a problem child complete engine like that and it worked perfect. And he put it in backwards by mistake. I'm sure it's tough stuffing it down in there but it works. Follow the instructions.