The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Chevy 235 Rear Main and Balancer Leaking Oil

Hi all. I have a 1949 5 window Chevy pickup with a 235 engine out of a 1954 Chevy Belaire and four speed transmission. The engine has developed a pretty significant oil leak at the rear of the engine and a small leak at the front seal. I'm assuming both seals need to be replaced. Can the seals be replaced with the engine in the truck or will the engine have to be removed? I've seen the write-up on the main page on replacing the rear main seal with the engine in the truck, but I've been told it's not good to loosen all of the bolts on the crank. Looking for advice on this one.

If the engine has to come out, I think I might as well have the engine gone through and rebuilt. If I have to go with this option, I'll be looking for someone in the southern middle Tennessee area to do it for me. I'm not comfortable enough with my mechanical abilities to tackle that job.

Photo of truck attached. Sorry for the Indian motorcycles photo-bombing the truck.

Thanks,
Darrell