im trying to replace the rear main but it seems every time i get about half way it gets stuck. when i try to put more pressure I end up rubbing the block and teearing the seal. Ive gone through a couple of these already. what can i do to make it go in?

 

Have you tried lubing it with liquid soap?

 

turn crank while feeding it in

 

I've tried soap, oil, loosening the next couple bearing caps, plastic shoe horns and still no luck. Is there any way to turn the crank without using the timing pulley? Just asking cause the front skid covers it and really doesn't want to come off.

 

are you inserting in in the correct orientation?
groove to the engine side?

you can use a medical syringe, like the ones to feed kids medicine, fill that with liquid dish soap and squirt it up inside the journal on the opposite side you start the seal.

you can also use a piece of plastic drinking straw, cut a slit lengthwise, snip the end on an angle to make a better shoe horn to feed the seal in.

there's a video on youtube that may help.

 

Here you go....

 

If all else fails try to cut a shallow groove at the end of the seal then tie a small diameter strong "mechanics" wire around it feed it through then pull and push at the same time. That's the way we did it back in the 60's with the old "rope style" seals. Yes, proper orientation is mandatory.

 

Yes I have the correct orientation. I use the straw. I have some P-80 thix to use. It's a rubber lube.

 

remove aux cooling fan reach down have a friend turn it will feed right in dip seal i oil

 

I got it in. The p-80 stuff really helped. Didn't have time to finish but just have to bolt the pan and starter back up and fill'er up.

 

put some astro-glide on it......you could put that stuff on a Cadillac and park it in a dog house....