Re: 56 Ultramatic front seal replacement

Posted by Ross On 2014/10/5 10:52:53

R & R of the trans is pretty straightforward--just a lot of unbolting, move it back about 1 inch and drop it straight down. If you have pushbutton, follow the procedure in the shop manual for pushing the trans sideways and working the selector off the shaft. Be sure to put it in reverse first then disconnect the battery so you can reach the set screw on the selector.

The larger issue is why the seal started leaking, or if it is even the seal. Here's a couple of things to look for:

small leak: check that it is not leaking around the lower bolts that hold the bell housing to the tranny.

Look for stains around the inner face of the torque convertor that will show that the gasket under the convertor stub shaft is leaking. If that area looks like it has been hot and oil baked on to it, then check that the one way clutch has not seized; ie grab the inner shaft on the convertor and twirl it quickly in both directions. One way should feel distinctly different than the other.

Otherwise just use a seal puller to snag out the old seal and then carefully tap in a Napa 21172.