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351 Rear Main Seal???


Bruno2

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Brandon - Glad you figured out how to post the pics. :nabble_smiley_good:

On a bigger screen than my phone, I think that is a standard 2-piece seal. But, I wouldn't bet on it. Hopefully others can say definitively. The reason I say that is because a one-piece has to have a recess to be pressed into, and I don't see a recess in your pic. But, perhaps it is there and I can't tell?

On the cast-in numbers, the D4AE says the block was engineered in '74. And the fact that the new seal came into being in '83 might suggest that there could be an E3AE block. However, the change on the seal probably was done via just different machining rather than casting.

As for the AA 4, I dunno.

Then there's the casting date code of "5K6". Ford used a year/month/day sequence, so that means the block was cast on November 6th of X5, meaning either '75 or '85. As said, that engine either came out of an '82 or an '85, but neither would have had a block cast in November of '85 as that would be for 1986 model vehicles.

So, I don't know what to tell you. But take a look at this pic for what I mean about "recess" for the seal to go into:

One-Piece_Rear_Main.jpg.213f732d1c980091dfb52c262877a832.jpg

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Brandon - Glad you figured out how to post the pics. :nabble_smiley_good:

On a bigger screen than my phone, I think that is a standard 2-piece seal. But, I wouldn't bet on it. Hopefully others can say definitively. The reason I say that is because a one-piece has to have a recess to be pressed into, and I don't see a recess in your pic. But, perhaps it is there and I can't tell?

On the cast-in numbers, the D4AE says the block was engineered in '74. And the fact that the new seal came into being in '83 might suggest that there could be an E3AE block. However, the change on the seal probably was done via just different machining rather than casting.

As for the AA 4, I dunno.

Then there's the casting date code of "5K6". Ford used a year/month/day sequence, so that means the block was cast on November 6th of X5, meaning either '75 or '85. As said, that engine either came out of an '82 or an '85, but neither would have had a block cast in November of '85 as that would be for 1986 model vehicles.

So, I don't know what to tell you. But take a look at this pic for what I mean about "recess" for the seal to go into:

Looks to me like 2 piece seal as well.

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What do I need to know about installing one of these two piece seals correctly?

Make sure you have it turned the right way. The lip faces into the engine. When installing the piece in the block, don't set it so it is flush with the block on both ends. Have one side sticking up about 3/8" Put a very small amount of RTV on both ends, so when the other side of the seals butts up, the RTV will help seal the two halves together. When putting the seal in the rear cap, offset it so it matches the piece in the block. Wipe some oil on the lip so the crank isn't turning dry against it, at start up. That's it.

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Brandon - We now have a new page: Engines/Engine Building Basics. And at present it has one tab: Rear Main Seals.

Check it out. :nabble_smiley_wink:

I got this from another forum:

This explains that the seal is designed to expand when soaked in oil. So the assembly is supposed to be as quick as possible after seal is removed from oil. So all of the bearings and caps need to be ready to go assembly and torque.

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I got this from another forum:

This explains that the seal is designed to expand when soaked in oil. So the assembly is supposed to be as quick as possible after seal is removed from oil. So all of the bearings and caps need to be ready to go assembly and torque.

Brandon - Why use a procedure other than that from the official Ford shop manual? Ford doesn't say to soak it in oil. But they do say to put RTV on it, which isn't going to work at all with oil there. In fact, they say "Do not allow oil to get on the sealer area."

I would not use that process, but would follow the Ford one, right out of the official publication, to the letter.

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