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No you dont have to use the rope, Im not even sure that they still make the roap anymore the rubber seal is the way to go but if you can get away without replacing it your better off. Unless it is leaking to the point it is getting oil all over your clutch then i would try it but you might have just as bad of a leak when you get done just from the fact that you really dont have the room to work under the truck that you would have if the motor was on an engine stand.Some of the others guys on here can correct me if im wrong.