No such luck
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New User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 18
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From: taos
No such luck
In an earlier post I asked for advice in changing the rear main seal on my 351m while it's still in the truck. Bill gave me the heads up on leaking oil sending units. But as it turns out the rear seal is the culprit so I'm back to looking for guidence in changeing it in the truck. Is it a one piece or two piece seal? Rope or rubber? Any good tricks or tools to change this thing out?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,854
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From: Des Moines, Iowa
it's a two piece seal, i think you just drop the pan remove one half and then use a screw driver to push the other half around and out. not to sure though, i haven't done it on these trucks.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 102
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From: PA
There's a little more to it then just dropping the pan. Use the search function, I remember reading many posts covering this subject. I believe you will need to unhook the motor mounts and raise the engine up to get enough clearance to remove the oil pan. You may need to loosen the main bearing caps to slightly lower the crank so you can get the top half of the seal in and out. I just did this on a '80 351M but the motor was out of the truck. I expected to find a 2 piece rubber type seal but found the remains of a rope seal, not sure if it was original or not.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 193
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From: Ohio
I did one or at least tried on a 77 351M while in the truck. It pretty much went like jdon88 said, it wasn't all that hateful but I was not able to get the upper seal to come out of block, even with the crank lowered a little. And yes it was a rope seal also. If you are sucessful there is a special tool that helps install the new one. It likes like the toy chinese hand cuffs that were made of bamboo ( if u ever seem those) but it made of steal wire instead.
