The last one I saw was a real mess. So much so I kept pictures of it. It had a rubber seal however when I took it apart I could tell at some point it had a rope seal. The problem with rope seals is that they harbor moisture...a lot if you live in a humid area. If the engine sits without being used that moisture, acid, etc will ruin the rear sealing surface. The rubber seal was so worn it couldn't have sealed anything. Also, it is a good idea to reduce the clearance on your rear main bearing (all mains actually) to as little as possible. You don't want the crank bouncing around unless you have a spring type full seal. Good luck.
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
