FORD SUCKS! Shifter shaft seal help on my Torino

I've owned Mopars all my life but because I like NASCAR, I own a couple of Ford products. I've learned over the past few years that Ford over engineered everything to a fault. Anyway, my current Ford issue is removing the shifter shaft seal from the auto T6 tranny. I have a seal removal tool but it only succeeded in destroying the outer flange. I tried heat, PB Blaster, mini vise grips, and every form of pick, pry tool, etc. that I can think of and the seal won't budge. Before I risk grinding the mother out and potentially ruining the case, does anyone have any suggestions?

I wonder if somebody glued it in.
Sorry, no help, I know.

File or cut it on whatever part is easiest to get to that won't touch the case and then get some needle nose vice grips in there and twist it out?

Get the smallest half round chisel you can find. Start at the edge of the seal's metal shell and collapse it to the center in one spot. The seal will come out, no problem. If you happen to scar the housing a bit, some sealer will take care of that.

Half round chisel

BTW, in my experience Ford has always been defined as 'misery on four wheels'.

Fords are not over engineered unless you consider "Oh sh!t, that didn't work out" engineering.

Who owns Ford now, the German's or the Italian's?

What does that matter?

Heat gun to melt the rubber so you can then carefully scrape it out the rubber with picks? When that rubber is broken down /removed adequately the metal structure will come out.

Worth a try. I have very limited space to swing a hammer though but will try.

Another good suggestion. Thx.

I wouldn't waste my time with a heat gun at this point and go straight for the mapp or propane torch and heat and burn the crap out of it. After all of the rubber is burned off and what ever "glue" or Loctite was holding the metal ring in is burned away, I would let it cool and then heat the case around the outside of the seal (with a torch) and pry it out with a seal remover tool. No sense at trying to be nice to it at this point GET THE TORCH out!

Mike

Trans fluid is flammable so there is that to pay attention to maybe?

The low band adjuster lock nut has a rubber seal and its 1 inch away from the seal. A torch will like destroy that too but I'll call that collateral damage. Propane torch will be used tomorrow. I also picked up a tiny punch and 90 degree dremel adaptor to finish the job... hopefully.

I hate to sound like a broken record but IMHO, the torch approach wont be of any real help. The problem is the steel shell pressed into the case. So you start with a steel shell with rubber remnants, burn the rubber out (possibly frying everything in close proximity) and you are left with....wait for it....the same steel shell pressed in the same case. Trust me, use the half round chisel and collapse the shell. I've done it numerous times with complete success.

Well, I bought a half round chisel and there wasn't enough room to swing a hammer to tap the tool without removing/lowering the exhaust system. I ended up cutting and removing the rubber part of the shaft seal just enough to reach in and pinch the lip with a tiny pair of vice grips. Some prying and it popped out.
Thanks for everyone's help.

X2

success at last !
did you learn any "new" words during this operation ?