While changing my rear main seal in a 95 5.0 4r70w 2wd I've run into a couple of concerns.
I have the tranny off, changed the rear main but:

I had to turn the crankshaft from the front to get to the flywheel to torque convertor bolts. I did not mark the original location or how many times I turned the crank. I noticed there is a counterweight type dealio welded to the flywheel. Is it important to have the crank in the same position? If it is important, then what to do if I haven't any idea where the original mark was?
I originally marked it with chalk, but the chalk come off pretty darn quick! Also, my teenage son had a breaker bar turning the front crank while I had a breaker bar on the flywheel to torque converter bolts. We had to do the same on the flywheel to crank bolts. So I was turn several times.


I slightly scratched the surface, (I mean slightly) on the crank. In reading directions, it says to be careful not to do this. What kind of margin of error do I have? I was going to put on a repair sleeve, but I was sent the wrong one, so I just changed the seal with a rubber seal.

In reading other threads about this job; it was mentioned about using thread locker on some of the bolts. I generally don't use threadlocker. I mostly use anti-seize if anything. I bought some of the blue permatex thread locker. Which bolts in this project should I put the threadlocker on if any? When loosening some bolts on this project the way they popped when loosening kind of felt like they had threadlocker on them.

I'm going to do a write-up thread on this project. There have been some things left off of other threads regarding changing the rear main seal.

Thank You in Advance!

 

The flywheel will only bolt to the crank in one position, the right one... As for the torque converter it doesn't matter it is balanced separately.

As for the scratch, I would have to see it to tell if it will give a problem, if you can feel it catch your fingernail you may have issues with the seal lasting like it should.

If the bolts are clean and torqued properly I see no need for thread lock.

 

My goodness that was quick! Thank You! I was editing some typos when you replied!

It doesn't really catch with a finger nail, I'm guessing it'll be okay. It happened removing the old seal.

When you say the flywheel will only go on the right way, do you mean literally it'll only go on one way? Or do you mean I have to somehow find out how it was on before? Thank you in advance!

 

The flywheel bolts are offset so it can go on only one way..

 

Good dealio! Thank you! A friend told me that my timing would be off and that I'd have to do the spout procedure to fix it! Didn't sound right, that's why I asked. He kind of gave me that vibe that he wasn't sure, but gave me a quick answer like he knew!

I'm gonna reassemble tomorrow. I might do it tonight. A benefit of this heat and drought is that it keeps the mosquitos down, so I can work at night!

I also need to repair a tranny coolant line that broke. Darn thing caught on the compression nut when I loosened it so I twisted.

Also, I need to make a sheet metal patch. I cut my own access panel in the center hump to get to the upper tranny bolts.

 

I use the thread locker on the torque converter bolts.

 

You are lucky on the "skeeters" the heat has just made ours mad and they are seeking revenge. I got in ones way last night and he darn near threw me off the back porch!!!!!

 

I'd at least use threadlocker on the bolts attaching the flexplate to the crankshaft. New bolts from Ford come with threadlocker already applied on them.

As White 97 xlt said, the flexplate will only bolt to the crankshaft in one orientation. One bolt hole is offset radially just so that it can't be put on incorrectly.