rear main seal replacement
 

well i am doing a clutch job so might as well change out the rear main seal. it is leaking slightly. so in order to put the new one in do i need the oil pan loose? or can it go in without fooling with the oil pan. i can break the old one into a couple of peices and get it off i am sure but will the new one go on without removing the oil pan?

Haynes manual doesn't have you remove the oil pan, which saves you a lot of work, unless it's wrong. I've never replaced the rear main seal with the engine still in the car. Be careful not to scratch anything.

ok i haven't found really anything on changing one out of a mustang. i did read some jeeps and chevy one piece seal replacement articles. so i am assuming it is all the same. so i am going to carefully take out the old seal not scarring or damaging the inside metal of the motor or crank. then gently tap the new one on dry until it is flush. if anyone has done this before please chime in and let me know if i am doing it right before i go and put everything back together.

it's raining today so if i get the seal replaced tomorrow i should be able to fill it back up with oil without running the motor and let it sit a day to check for leaks before i put the clutch and tranny back in?

Tap the new seal in till it is at the same position the old seal was, unless the new seal is wider than the old. The seal may not leak unless the engine is running.

thanks got home today and tapped into the old one with a screw and pryed it out of there. took the new one and tapped it on at first using a piece of 1x1 piece of wood. then put the old one on it when it started and tapped it on with the wood till it was flush. keeping my finger crossed. got the flex plate and flywheel on today. put some oil in the engine and nothing yet but everyone says it won't leak till i start the motor. hopefully i can put the rest of the clutch and transmission in tomorrow when i get home.