Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => Technical / Authenticity => Topic started by: Bjarte Revheim on May 13, 2005, 05:26:06 PM

Title: 57rear engine seal replacement
Post by: Bjarte Revheim on May 13, 2005, 05:26:06 PM
 Hi I am wondering if anybody know if that is possible to replace the rear engine seal without taking the crank shaft appart from the block? or if that is possible to modify other gaskets to fitt whitout taking the engine appart.
Title: Re: 57rear engine seal replacement
Post by: Ralph Messina CLC 4937 on May 13, 2005, 05:56:54 PM
Hi Bjarte,

There is a way, but it isn’t easy.  You need to drop the pan and loosen the crank to take the compression off the seal. You’ll need a tool that looks like a long fish hook. You may have to find an old time mechanic who has one from the days when rope seals were the norm.
Use a soft, flexible rod, like heavy gage copper wire, to follow the seal groove and push the old seal out. Pass the fish hook tool through the groove and hook the end portion of the new seal on the hook then pull the hook and seal back through the groove. The seal will be a bit too long and have to be cut with a sharp razor. Cut it a 1/16 inch proud of the journal surface so that the lower journal cap will compress the seal and swell it in the groove. That makes the seal tighter. You then have to torque all the journal caps and reinstall the pan.  
To my knowledge, there is no other modern rubber type seal that works. However, I have heard that a Mercedes rubber seal will work, but know nothing else about it.

Hope this helps,

Ralph
Title: Re: 57rear engine seal replacement
Post by: Bjarte on May 14, 2005, 03:37:16 PM
Hi Ralph tanks for the response.I guess the tranny has to be removed first? Tanks again.
Bjarte
Title: Re: 57rear engine seal replacement
Post by: Ralph Messina CLC 4937 on May 14, 2005, 05:01:22 PM
Bjarte,
I assumed you would assume that, but I should have said it anyway.
Good luck.....
Ralph
Title: Re: 57rear engine seal replacement
Post by: Brian Daum, 18809 on May 15, 2005, 06:29:15 PM
Hei Bjarte!

I would never even consider doing this operation without taking the engine out.Although it is decribed as possible in manuals and elsewhere, I feel it is not worth the effort. It is a real tricky operation to get these seals tight with the engine in a engine stand right in front of you, not to mention doing it with the engine in the car.

It will still be just as annoying after your finished if the oil leak is still there, so you might as well take the engine out, that operation takes no more than 2 hours.

There has been a lot of discussion concerning how to get these seals tight, and quite a few articles in the SS, follow the manuals very closely but don`t be too surprised if it leaks just as bad after you changed the seal.

Lykke til!


Brian