how do i support the engine from tipping back to replace pan gasket and rear main seal?? friend told me 4x4 across fenderwells and hang a chain. tranny is out and gamings off fly wheel, so it sou.ds like my only option.
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
how to replace rear main seal with tranny out??
- Thread starter 14-Bolt
- Start date
Usually the exhaust holds the rear of the engine up just fine...
Rene
Rene
I use an old leaf spring, sitting across the rear of the front leaf springs, with a block of wood sitting on it to block up the back of the oil pan. always works for me.
Yeah, but oil pan must come off to replace the rear main seal...
The motor mounts are close enough to center that they will support 80% of the engine's weight, leaving the rest on the exhaust. As long as the exhaust is in decent shape it should have no trouble holding up the back of the engine for the time it takes to fix the rear main seal.
Rene
The motor mounts are close enough to center that they will support 80% of the engine's weight, leaving the rest on the exhaust. As long as the exhaust is in decent shape it should have no trouble holding up the back of the engine for the time it takes to fix the rear main seal.
Rene
That depends on what year the engine is, if it's 1986 or later then the pan DOES NOT need to come off as it is a 1 piece rear main seal engine and is replaceable from the rear.
His profile says '82 Chevy...so that's what I went with. 
You're right of course, if it is one piece rear main then the pan can stay on. He may have a newer small block in an older truck.
Rene
You're right of course, if it is one piece rear main then the pan can stay on. He may have a newer small block in an older truck.
Rene
British Slave
1/2 ton status
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2007
- Posts
- 2,086
- Reaction score
- 2
Since he says he wants to replace the seal AND PAN GASKET, I would think the pan needs to come off. 
If the exhaust is weak,I'd put a chain to the engine from above on two bellhousing bolts and use a pipe across the fenders (with rags under it to prevent scratches!) to help support it...or an engine hoist if one is available,chain falls,etc..
One guy I know routinely replaces things like engine mounts and transmissions in FWD cars and rarely bothers using the pipe support trick--he seems to think the wiring,coolant hoses and varoius vacuum hoses and other bracketry is sufficient to hold the engine in mid-air while he replaces things!...weird thing is,only a few cars had leaky heater cores after surviving this abuse!...
..I dont let him fix MY vehicles...
One guy I know routinely replaces things like engine mounts and transmissions in FWD cars and rarely bothers using the pipe support trick--he seems to think the wiring,coolant hoses and varoius vacuum hoses and other bracketry is sufficient to hold the engine in mid-air while he replaces things!...weird thing is,only a few cars had leaky heater cores after surviving this abuse!...
..I dont let him fix MY vehicles...Motor is from a 84 burb so its old style had to take it all off, not that hard to do, once I figured out. I supported engine with 2 2x4's screwed together sitting up on my fenders.with a chain wrapped around it and attached to rear engine hanger, worked great, and it barley moved just didn.t want it smashing distributor, "cap off of course" when I install body lift it will make work much easier.
