[DeTomaso] Rear seal change with engine in the car?

[cengles at cox.net]

Dear Mike,

I might elaborate a bit on Jack's advice. When I last dropped my oil pan, it was not a straightforward process for this rookie mechanic. I had to be shown that one must loosen the very large nut on the trunnion support to permit some wiggle room to move (or shift?) the shift linkage over and out of the way to permit the pan to drop down.
I think the time estimate of one hour for the job applies to the seal R&R. For "normal" Pantera mechanics, who will be dropping the rear brace at the same time, then I would add on about two more hours of "fiddle" time.

Good luck and good wrenching, Chuck "the rookie mechanic" Engles


---- MikeLDrew at aol.com wrote:
>Hi guys,
>
>As you may recall, Chuck Melton and I have been working with Markus Woehler
>to help him get his Pantera squared away as much as possible. All the little
>things are done, but the big thing looming over his head is that he has a
>leaking rear main seal. He is dreading having to pull the engine to fix it.
>
>Assuming one cuts out the crossmember under the oil pan and subsequently
>replaces it with a bolt-in style, is it possible to R&R the rear main seal without
>actually removing the engine from the car? I'm thinking that perhaps the
>transaxle could be slid rearwards a little bit, the oil pan dropped, and there
>you go?
>
>I'm doublly interested in your thoughts on the matter, because I have a
>long-ignored oil leak coming from the front of my motor that I haven't tried to
>investigate at all yet. It's large enough that I think it's either coming from
>the crank snout or the front main seal, and I am filled with similar levels of
>dread at the prospect of pulling my engine to sort it out.
>
>So, is there an easier way?
>
>Thanks!
>
>Mike
>
>
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