[DeTomaso] It runs!

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/22/08 6:37:42 PM, spkorb at gmail.com writes:

> Now the bad news.  In my hurry, I never installed a removable cross piece 
> under the oil pan.  Guess what leaks anew?  Yup, my rear main seal.  Ah well, 
> the car *is* 37 years old.  I started to leak a bit around that age too.
> 
FWIW, the rear crossmember is removeable with much more difficulty while the 
engine's in place but it is possible. This was done at a Nor-Cal Tech session 
one time, and it took about 3 hrs to get the piece cut out, the edges in the 
car trimmed and screw-on attact plates welded to the cut piece. Be prepared 
with a Sawzall and several blades. Be careful & don't hurry- your body is full of 
cuttable spots!   Oh, and you can start with a simpler job by cutting away 
the e-brake bracket and bolting or welding on an angle-iron bracket to it so 
it's removeable, too. The pan drops down, then moves forward about 3" to avoid 
the oil pump for removal, so that welded bracket is also in the way. 

Finally, with early engines, its possible the rear main seal is old-school 
rope; if so, replace it with a more modern neoprene seal, whilch interchanges 
perfectly. In rope-seal main caps is a tiny needle protruding into the seal area 
to prevent rotation; knock it out & plug the little hole remaining with RTV 
and you're done. Good luck- J DeRyke



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