1937 LaSalle Transmission Seals

[rg171352]

I am working on putting together my transmission.  Is there a seal for the tail shaft that can be replaced?  If so, where can I find these?  I have a gasket set, but would like to replace everything at once.

[Daryl Chesterman]

If you have the old seal, look for a number on it.  You might see the number on the outside face, or you might see the number on the rubber lip (if it is rubber!) of the seal.  If you find no number, you can use a caliper to measure the inside diameter of the bore the seal is pressed into, and the outside diameter of the shaft that the seal fits over.  These two dimensions along with the depth (or thickness) of the seal shell is all that a bearing house needs to set you up with a replacement seal.  Be sure to tell the counter person what the application is so that they will get the proper seal lip configuration.  If you have the parts catalog, you can look to see what the GM part number is and the counter person might be able to interchange it.  On that age of transmission they were probably using leather seals, and a modern seal will be much better, but will probably have to be acquired using dimensions.

Daryl Chesterman

[Brad Ipsen CLC #737]

It does have a seal.  The number is National 51098 which can be interchanged to other brands.  If the surface on the yoke is bad a sleeve to fix it is Redi-Sleeve 99149.

[rg171352]

Thank you very much for your replies and help.  The seal is on its way.

[rg171352]

It does have a seal.  The number is National 51098 which can be interchanged to other brands.  If the surface on the yoke is bad a sleeve to fix it is Redi-Sleeve 99149.

Is it difficult to swap the seal with the trans mostly assembled?

[55 CDV Fan 82]

I believe the seal was a metal core that was vulcanized.  There's a few companies out there who can rebuild it I believe.

[Brad Ipsen CLC #737]

I have always replaced the seal in the process of going through the transmission so then it is really easy, but I think it could be done from the outside using some typical method of removing seals.  It is not trapped.

This is a very conventional seal.  In 41 with the introduction of the Hydramatic the stick shift seal was changed to match its seal.  Slip joint was now in the transmission and not the driveshaft.