Re: Olds Pump=More Oil pressure=Leaking Rear Main

Posted by Joe Hall On 2007/8/5 10:02:43

Yes, I have successfully installed one of the seals in an engine still in the car. It has been in 56J #2, (my gold & white one) for two years and about 15,000 miles now. The repro turned into what looked like a wet mop string a little over 15,000 after rebuild, and began leaking like a sieve. I tried unsuccessfully to install an NOS rope with the engine in the car. (Possibly because of the TH400 tranny the shaft would drop down very little with the main caps loosened.) I decided there had to be a better way than remove the engine, so went looking at other crank specs.

I was also motivated by the fact that a fellow 56J owner (female) had the same experience a couple of years earlier after a "Packard expert" in Tuscon, AZ worked on her engine. Each time she took it back and the guy "fixed" it again, it would begin leaking in a few hundred miles. I don't what ever happened to her; she may have just given up and parked or sold the car.

At the meet in SB this year, a fellow 56J owner told me his mech had installed the neoprene seal in his car after giving up on being able to (properly) install a rope seal in his. Same story, it would start leaking in a few hundred miles. He had driven his 56J to the meet from PA and it still was not leaking, so he was very happy.

The rope seal is difficult enough to install properly (at least for some people) with the on an engine stand, i.e. upon rebuild. The neoprene seal provides an alternative for an engine that is still in the car.

The seal fits best if you flatten the ends by grinding, in total removing maybe .010" of end material, then use non hardening Permatex on the ends. That gives it a little tighter fit on the crank.

As for the problem with my current Olds pump and neoprene combo with 56J #1, there's only one way to find out; I am on my way out to the garage, and will let you know what I find.

Thanks Again,

Joe H