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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,087 Posts1,055,977 Members48,430 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 | Guys,
I am going to replace the rear main seal in my 54 / 235 this week and I am fairly confident that that year still used the rope seal. I am not sure what year the neoprene seal is used on, but today I went to the local Oreilly Auto Parts store and gave them the fel-pro # BS5048 which is for the rope seal.
They had to order the seal in and when I went to pick it up, we opened the box and it was the neoprene seal. The instruction sheet inside the box talked about rolling the seal into the bearing cap and cutting off the excess which has to be rope.
I told the guy it was the wrong seal and he agreed. Another Oreilly employee said maybe Fel-Pro upgraded the seal. Well, unless I am missing something, I don't think the neoprene seal will work. I had him order another seal. Hopefully the right one comes in tomorrow.
Am I missing something here? I know it's been several years since I replaced a rear main seal, but has Fel-Pro really done away with the rope seal?
Thanks!
Kevin
1953 3100 with 1957 235, T5 and 12 bolt 373 rear
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 | I don't think most AP stores can get the rope anymore. Do a search on here about rope rear main seals and you should find a source. They are getting harder and harder to find.ðŸ›
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 | I don't think most AP stores can get the rope anymore. Do a search on here about rope rear main seals and you should find a source. They are getting harder and harder to find.🛠Ok, Thanks!
1953 3100 with 1957 235, T5 and 12 bolt 373 rear
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 | Thank you! I will see where I can find the "Best" seal.
1953 3100 with 1957 235, T5 and 12 bolt 373 rear
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,210 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,210 | Don't waste any time on the Felpro seal, it will not work the way you want it to. Go online and purchase the Best seal. Summit Racing and Amazon carry them, along with direct from Best. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Joe H,
What part numbers for the Best Gasket rope seal at Amazon & Summit?
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 | Joe H,
What part numbers for the Best Gasket rope seal at Amazon & Summit? I believe 6100 is the Best part number.
1953 3100 with 1957 235, T5 and 12 bolt 373 rear
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | That is correct, kthomas Try to find it on Amazon or Summit (that is what/why I was asking Joe H). It is available on eBay, and maybe elsewhere (like, Marx Parts LLC). | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 | As Paul Harvey used to say, here's the rest of the story. Turns out someone at Oreilly's main warehouse in Springfield, MO. sent the wrong rear main seal (the neoprene one), which I suspected the minute it was taken out of the box. Anyway, they got in a Fel-Pro rope seal and I am returning it because I ordered the Best Gasket rear main seal # 6100.
With everything I have seen here and read, I think it is the best choice. Fix it one, fix it right!
Thanks all!
Kevin
Last edited by kthomas; 08/23/2017 11:50 AM.
1953 3100 with 1957 235, T5 and 12 bolt 373 rear
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | rock auto sells them part # BS5048 www.rockauto.comamazon has them as well , type in Felpro BS5048 Tim 1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Tim,
That is the Fel Pro seal. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | yes sir , same rope seal we put in my 1954 261 engine. 1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,953 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,953 | I put a Fel-Pro neoprene seal in my 235 about 10 years ago. Touch wood, so far so good. A good trick I learned when installing the seal instead of having the joint at the 9 o'clock/3 o'clock position I positioned it at the 8 o'clock/2 o'clock position. Makes for a better seal. The main cap is 9/3 so by going 8/2 it eliminates a chance of leaking. | | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 85 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2009 Posts: 85 | If any one is still interested I got one at NAPA last year, I think they had it in stock, if not it was the next day.
1949 3100
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