Yaaaa, I'm kinda funnin with ya guys here. I do have this tendency of going to far with somethings. Kind of like a domino effect ya know, one thing leads to another and so on.
Mostly I was wonderin if the pan would clear the tie rod and axle, it looks like it but I’m looking at it with the weight on the wheels, if jack up the frame I’m sure it will clear.
I’ve never change the rope with the engine in the frame, I have, put a lot of them in with the crank out of the engines on the bench. I can recall when I was a Chevy parts man hearing a lot of cussing from the line mechanics when they had to change rear main seals. Pulling the new one in doesn’t worry me all that much, getting the old upper out was always a problem, that’s the one I’m concerned about and that was why I was questioning whether I needed to drop the crank. Driving the upper seal round I can envision it getting tighter and tighter, the rivet effect. (lots O’ effects happening here)
If I changed the lower I surely would change the upper. It would seem logical that there would be more potential for leakage at the lower half of the seal but I’m sure the upper half is contributing to the drip also. I’m not real sure that there is a neoprene seal for the 216. I thought that I had read somewhere that they were not available. It’s a mute point anyway, cuz I’m putting in the rope seal for just those reasons that were mentioned. Covers More area and defects!!!
I probably would tighten up the rods while in there, wouldn’t hurt no matter what shape they are in and just might help quiet her down for the rest of the summer. I’m planning a complete rebuild of the short block this winter when I’ll fit the rods up with inserts, and planning to replace those cast Iron **** ons with alum then also.
That’s why Munk, the tranny also need a diaper, there is so much earl blowing back that every thing aft of the rear main is dripping wet. I’m very surprised that I’m not getting clutch chatter, I’m sure as bad as this is leaking that the clutch is saturated.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
