hmmm, so this one really has me scratching my head. i'm replacing the 3.0 in my 91. I've taken the flywheel off, but it would seem that the rear main seal is metal with just a tiny bit of rubber on the edges. it's like this on both the old engine and the new one. i've taken a drywall screw and drill to both of them, only to burn out the screw. what in the world is going on here and how do i get this out to replace it?

 

I usually just take a screwdriver and hammer and hit it till it punctures it then pop it out. Just be carefull not to gouge the area under the old seal.

 

can the rear main seal be changed in a 2001,3.0L, 2wd ,5sp. ...with-out dropping the tranny??

 

tranny has to come out.

 

Its not a 2 piece rear main, where you slide half of it on to a groove in the block, then the other half into the groove on your main cap is it?

 

No, Ford hasn't used 2 piece main seals on anything that I'm aware of since the mid-80s.