Hello, I screwed up on my 1998 limited oil pan and rear main seal installation.
I just need to know if I can fix it without dropping the axle and pan again.
I was in such a hurry putting it all back together, and so focused on the seal, that I forgot to lube the lower main bearing shell and/or main journal upon reinstall.
Also, I had placed the crank girdle out of the way and forgot to reinstall it as well.
My questions are:
1. Can I prime the oil pump and possibly get some oil down to that rear main before initial start up?
2. Is the main girdle essential to longevity of engine life, and is it worth the trouble to go back and do it all over again to make it right?
I read that certain model years didn't even come with the girdle, and that the replacement parts were discontinued from the factory at this point.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

First off, have you actually started it yet?

If I were you, I would bite the bullet and do it right. I would rather do the engine right and not have to worry about a problem down the road, perhaps even a larger problem that could require much more work.

 

No, not yet. The problem is, that i was using a friends lift at his work.
I was supposed to be out of the shop by Monday.
I had to roll it out and now it's still on their back lot and he's in trouble over the whole situation. (He didn't clear it with the owner)
I really don't have much time and I'm not sure they'll even let me use the lift again.

 

Ah, that's definitely a problem. You may have to pony up some cash to the owner for him to do the work to repair to smooth things over.