School me on big block rear main seals

Posted By: lilcuda

School me on big block rear main seals - 07/27/13 11:06 PM

I'm assembling a 383 for a friend and while I have built a bunch of small block Mopars and countless brand X, Y & Z engines, I have never assembled a BB Mopar. The only thing that is tripping me up is the rear main seal retainer, specifically the side seals . The instructions say to soak the side seals in mineral spirits, then install them. It seems to me that it will be too tight to slide them in.

If anyone can give me a step-by-step procedure for installing the retainer so it doesn't leak, that would be most appreciated.

Thanks!
Lee

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 07/27/13 11:37 PM

You soak the side seals, stick them on the sides of the retainer and slide it all in together. The seals should be shrunk enough to get it together before they swell.

Put a small dab of rtv on the block surface that the retainer sits on too. Then after you have it bolted together wipe down the block and retainer at the surface where they meet to make sure there is no oil residue and put a bead of rtv on it on either side of the block/retainer joint , not inside the block

, and hope for the best .

Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 07/28/13 03:02 AM

I use a 10 CC syringe to squirt the mineral spirits onto both sides of the seals once thier installed on the motor for the last time

I let it set up while I finish assembling the short block and then, on the next day to allow the mineril spirits to soak in and dry up, I use adhesive silicone and a thin bladed screwdriver to fill the sides and the bottom of the seal holder up between the block and the holder

Posted By: lilcuda

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 07/29/13 08:30 PM

Thanks for the pointers. I'll give them a try.

By the way, Cab - thanks for the heads up some time ago regarding the Federal Mogul 4094 main bearings. They solved my issue with this engine having a loose #3 upper bearing shell.

Posted By: GTX MATT

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 07/29/13 08:34 PM

Where did you get the paper side seals?

Posted By: lilcuda

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 07/30/13 01:19 AM

The side seals aren't paper. They're some sort of orange colored rubber. That's one of the reasons for my confusion. I hope they go in OK.

Posted By: 451Mopar

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 07/30/13 06:52 AM

The orange silicone ones with a hole through the center actually seal pretty good, but are a pain to install. Usually start with about 1/3 of the seal below the retainer and slide the seals and retainer down at the same time. You may have to work the retainer up/down several times to get the side seals all the way down.

Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 07/30/13 07:46 AM

Quote:

The side seals aren't paper. They're some sort of orange colored rubber. That's one of the reasons for my confusion. I hope they go in OK.

Good luck on them, I haven't had to use them yet

I bought a bunch (25) of the old type Mopar and Fel Pro rear main seal kits with the black paper type side seals

trying to delay the future

Posted By: roadhazard

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 07/30/13 12:44 PM

Quote:

The side seals aren't paper. They're some sort of orange colored rubber. That's one of the reasons for my confusion. I hope they go in OK.

DO NOT use mineral spirits on them, they are silicone

When and where did you get them WITHOUT the proper installation instructions?

I can post the instructions for those if you need

Posted By: lilcuda

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 07/31/13 01:34 AM

Quote:

Quote:

The side seals aren't paper. They're some sort of orange colored rubber. That's one of the reasons for my confusion. I hope they go in OK.

DO NOT use mineral spirits on them, they are silicone

When and where did you get them WITHOUT the proper installation instructions?

I can post the instructions for those if you need

It's my buddy's engine. I'm not sure where he got the rear main seal kit. I believe it is a Mopar Performance part. I'll have to double-check. It did come with instructions which say to soak the seals in mineral spirits. Seemed weird to me since they are silicone. That's the reason I posted the question here.

If you have the proper instructions for the silicone seals, can you post them here or send me a PM? It would be much appreciated!

Thanks.

Posted By: roadhazard

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 07/31/13 01:48 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

The side seals aren't paper. They're some sort of orange colored rubber. That's one of the reasons for my confusion. I hope they go in OK.

DO NOT use mineral spirits on them, they are silicone

When and where did you get them WITHOUT the proper installation instructions?

I can post the instructions for those if you need

It's my buddy's engine. I'm not sure where he got the rear main seal kit. I believe it is a Mopar Performance part. I'll have to double-check. It did come with instructions which say to soak the seals in mineral spirits. Seemed weird to me since they are silicone. That's the reason I posted the question here.

If you have the proper instructions for the silicone seals, can you post them here or send me a PM? It would be much appreciated!

Thanks.

OK , guess some of those are still in the system with instructions for the old style asbestos side seals. That problem should be rectified now with the updated blue side seals

Thanks for posting the question.
Don't like to see people struggle to install my parts with the wrong instruction sheet

Attached picture 7796449-New9440and9441Instructions.jpg

Posted By: lilcuda

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 07/31/13 08:52 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

The side seals aren't paper. They're some sort of orange colored rubber. That's one of the reasons for my confusion. I hope they go in OK.

DO NOT use mineral spirits on them, they are silicone

When and where did you get them WITHOUT the proper installation instructions?

I can post the instructions for those if you need

It's my buddy's engine. I'm not sure where he got the rear main seal kit. I believe it is a Mopar Performance part. I'll have to double-check. It did come with instructions which say to soak the seals in mineral spirits. Seemed weird to me since they are silicone. That's the reason I posted the question here.

If you have the proper instructions for the silicone seals, can you post them here or send me a PM? It would be much appreciated!

Thanks.

OK , guess some of those are still in the system with instructions for the old style asbestos side seals. That problem should be rectified now with the updated blue side seals

Thanks for posting the question.
Don't like to see people struggle to install my parts with the wrong instruction sheet

Thanks for the instructions! Are you implying that you supply gaskets to Mopar Performance?

Posted By: Pyper70

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 07/31/13 09:08 PM

not to hijack the thread...but my buddy's rear main is leaking and I really don't wanna do it...but I know I have to...

How hard is it to do while in the vehicle....are there instructions for that too?

Posted By: roadhazard

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 07/31/13 09:16 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

The side seals aren't paper. They're some sort of orange colored rubber. That's one of the reasons for my confusion. I hope they go in OK.

DO NOT use mineral spirits on them, they are silicone

When and where did you get them WITHOUT the proper installation instructions?

I can post the instructions for those if you need

It's my buddy's engine. I'm not sure where he got the rear main seal kit. I believe it is a Mopar Performance part. I'll have to double-check. It did come with instructions which say to soak the seals in mineral spirits. Seemed weird to me since they are silicone. That's the reason I posted the question here.

If you have the proper instructions for the silicone seals, can you post them here or send me a PM? It would be much appreciated!

Thanks.

OK , guess some of those are still in the system with instructions for the old style asbestos side seals. That problem should be rectified now with the updated blue side seals

Thanks for posting the question.
Don't like to see people struggle to install my parts with the wrong instruction sheet

Thanks for the instructions! Are you implying that you supply gaskets to Mopar Performance?

Yes I manufacture the retainer seals they sell. I also manufacture other gaskets and seals

Pyper_70 The only instructions I have are for the actual seal installation.
No instructions for laying on your back trying to avoid oil dripping on your forehead, or in my case five-head

Posted By: Pyper70

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 07/31/13 09:38 PM

thats what I am looking for...I have never done one with the motor still in the car...and I dont have a lift

Posted By: Jeff_383

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 08/01/13 02:50 AM

Use a "sneaky pete" tool for in-car replacement.

Posted By: 451Mopar

Re: School me on big block rear main seals - 08/01/13 06:58 AM

Those instructions from SuperPerformance are what I got with the seal kit with the Blue silicone side seals. The Orange silicone side seals seemed softer than the Blue ones, and I had to start with more of the seal below the retainer. Not a big deal, you just may have to slide the retainer into the block a few times to get the side seals in correctly. These fluoroelastomer rear main seals have worked good for me, just takes a bit more time installing them.