Rope upper rear main seal will not budge. I have removed about one inch on each side by removing tiny little fibers and now it is difficult to get to the top. I have tried a 1/4 inch copper rod but it bends fairly easy when tapping on it. I read about someone using an aluminum tube over the copper rod but no one has anything in town. All the caps are loose. Anyone have any thoughts?
Bruce.

 

Are you sure you have a "rope" seal. It was my understanding those became obsolete during the 70s.

Dont scratch the crankshaft

 

It is rope. I lifted the bottom one out and it came out in one piece. I too was under the impression that they were not still in use but one site said that they were in use up until the late 90s.

 

I changed my rear seal today, 1989 d150. It was the rubber type, not rope. Sorry your having problems. Not sure what is do in your position.

 

I was reading about rope rear main seals. I'm pretty sure my 1980 slant six has one and I am scared to replace it. The reason I'm scared is because others have ended up needing to pull the motor to finish the job.

 

That is what it has come down to. I have picked out tiny fibers to where I cannot reach anymore. I have checked around and have decided that the motor will have to be pulled and while it is out I will have it rebuilt. It is not what I thought when I started this project but it was the original seal and over the years it bonded to the block and would not move.

 

Well all you can do is hope for the best and expect the worst. Pull it out and have fun with it. A broken motor is an opportunity not a threat.

 

I am going to put a cam in it and put on headers. That should help perk it up. The truck is 21 years old and it is time for some tlc.

 

Yea a built 318 LA would be sweet. I wish I could swap one with my slant six easily.