Rear Main Seal

[Curt J]

I recently installed a low mileage 312 in my 57 ragtop. It had only around 50,000 actual miles on it, and came out of a 56 Thunderbird. This engine runs extremely well, but had not been started for about three years. The old "rope" rear main bearing seal is now leaking.....a Y-block trait I well remember from my misspent youth. I understand that there is a better cure for this than installing another 50 year old rope seal. A modified Mopar seal? Does someone here have info on this???

[cool57]

You could sell me the car...

[Hoosier Hurricane]

Best Gaskets makes a silicone rubber seal for the 312 which I have had good luck with.  Their latest product is a teflon rope seal, it's too new to tell, but apparently works well on other brand engines.

John

[DanTudor57]

Old post, but wanted to add my two cents..

Best Gaskets' silicone rubber seal works great. I installed it after 3 failed rope type installs. No more oil slicks under my 312. I recommend it.

[dave362]

I had good luck with this neoprene rear main seal from www.partsdinosaur.com,
my 1954 256 Y-block (car was a 312 originally and
somehow this engine got in there) used to be the "Exxon Valdez" until this was installed.

Y-Block FORD 292 Rear Main Seal       JV748 -VIC

Dave
1957 Ford Club Sedan

[Curt J]

Believe it or not, the rear main seal problem has pretty much cured itself after some use. I'm guessing that after it got soaked up with oil, it expanded a little. A good friend of mine tells me that they used to make a product specifically for this problem, that could be added to the engine oil. He said he believed NAPA used to sell it. He used it in a flathead that leaked severely and cured it in under 50 miles. Does anyone know anything about this?