I freshly rebuilt my engine 292 y block a year ago. Now, I'm having an oil leak (engine oil) by the bell housing. Not sure if my mechanic knew how to install the rear seal. I will probably need to remove the tranny to see where the leak is coming from "hopefully from a rear plug" but, if I need to replace the rear seal while the engine is in the car, I would need some guidance or an old post to remove and replace the rear seal. If any one has a suggestions or refer me to a step by step procedure to replace rear seal if need it. Thank you.
Make sure that you know where the oil is coming from. Several years ago I thought I had a rear main seal on a 312 I had recently rebuilt, turned out it was actually leaking from the sheetmetal oil filter plate. Because the oil filter is close to the rear of the engine, I assumed it was the rear main seal, but after cleaning the area and running the engine, I could see oil seeping between the filter plate, run onto the oil pan rail, and slowly migrate to the rear of the pan, and puddle under the bellhousing. A leak from the rear of the valve covers or lifter valley baffle plate could also appear at the rear of the engine. Good luck (and I hope it is NOT the rear main seal.)
Yes, I did reseal the oil filter plate but the oil leak is coming from the rear.
The seals that you get these days are junk and will not last. Mfgs. had to remove the asbestos. New ones are just stringy something? with graphite. They cant even be cut and trimmed properly. Either replace with neoprene seal or find someone who has old asbestos seals left over from old days. Good luck
I had a rebuilt Y block that the previous owner thought had a leaking rear seal and it wasn't. It was an improperly installed back camshaft plug. Do lots of investigation before removing your rear seal. Had to slip the tranny back and remove the clutch and flywheel to replace the rear cam plug.
Neoprene rear seals are easier to install and they work. No trimming required.