Rear crank oil seal 440 and lifter noise.

GeneralWee · Post by **GeneralWee** » Sat Mar 21, 15 1:19 pm

OK, 2 problems here;
1, 69 Charger with 440 fitted, rear oil seal leaking, can it be changed with engine in easily? Only seems to drip on tickover when warm/hot, has been fine for 6 years.
2, I have a ford (I know, not mopar) 460 motor, silent on tickover but I get one lifter that taps when accelerating, could it be collapsing when under load?? Fine when cruising at higher rpm's, just taps when the old loud pedal is pressed.
Any advice appreciated

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sat Mar 21, 15 1:56 pm

1) Rear main seal is very hard to ensure an oil tight fit even with the engine out and on the bench.....Can be done in situ but not for the faint-hearted - Dave Billadeau is the king of doing these....I have just done one (on the bench!!!) and took my time. I removed all the old rope seal tangs from the main seal carrier and filled it with silicon and assembled it without the crank in place overnight before installing the crank...a DaveB tip....time will tell.

2) Could possibly be en exhaust manifold gasket blow - really sounds like a lifter issue.....worth a look / try first....

shovelheadrob · Post by **shovelheadrob** » Sat Mar 21, 15 2:27 pm

I'd go with either Pete's exhaust header gasket theory or possibly a bit of piston slap or rod bearing as the load on the lifters does not change with throttle position.

GeneralWee · Post by **GeneralWee** » Sat Mar 21, 15 3:23 pm

I freshened up the motor years ago and don't remember having a rope seal, it was rubber, 2 part I think. Will double check those exhaust manifolds ont he 460. Thanks

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sat Mar 21, 15 3:29 pm

Rope seals have not been used for years, but unless you have used a Billet Main seal carrier, it will still be for a rope seal.

I believe the protrusions that are designed to keep the old style rope seal in place and avoid spinning actually prevent the new neoprene-style seals from seating correctly, allowing the oil to seep UNDER the lower seal........just a personal view........

Cannonball · Post by **Cannonball** » Sat Mar 21, 15 4:23 pm

Pete wrote:Rope seals have not been used for years, but unless you have used a Billet Main seal carrier, it will still be for a rope seal.

I believe the protrusions that are designed to keep the old style rope seal in place and avoid spinning actually prevent the new neoprene-style seals from seating correctly, allowing the oil to seep UNDER the lower seal........just a personal view........

Thats a good theory pete???

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Sat Mar 21, 15 5:37 pm

I've changed one in situ, not too bad a job and it didn't leak afterwards. I'm a bit surprised to hear of these being troublesome, I've built a good few big blocks over the years, all with neoprene seals and none of them leaked, perhaps I've just been lucky?

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sat Mar 21, 15 6:06 pm

The internet is full of threads complaining of a leaking main seal......lots of theories on the cause and possible remedies but nothing difinative.....

We changed ones on Roydon's stroker 3 times until we changed to a billet housing filled with silicon and that worked, very frustrating!! They even leaked without running the engine

GeneralWee · Post by **GeneralWee** » Sun Mar 22, 15 8:46 am

Think I'll have a crack at it then - as I said, not leaked since I freshened it up years ago, perhaps 10 years ago the mrs reckons. Be out this morning for a blast