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Just did that on a 55 yesterday. That is the correct orientation for the seals, and yes you do want them and the axle nice and greasy as you slide the axle in.

I picked this up at the local Obi today (German version of home depot) It is actually a cair/table leg, but should make a handy seal installer when I put in my rear axle seals....
Anything to keep me from butchering parts is good.

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Or just use a large socket. Similar to the one you used to remove the rear axle nut.

Both are good ideas for seal installation tools. Here is another one. I keep a variety of sizes of PVC fittings to install seals. They are cheap and work well. I also broke down and bought a real seal installation tool kit from Harbor Freight.

(o{}o)

Good ideas on the sockets and pipe fittings. I did look through my colection of sockets and pipe fittings, but didn't find anything that fit so well, that's why I got the wooden piece. The seals went in easily on sunday. Also installed a new lamp in my sandblast booth since the last one broke, then sandblasted the rear drums and backing plates and a bunch of small parts and fasteners. I got a 1-7/16 socket to fit the nut on the pinion seal, so I can change that sometime soon. It was made in 'west germany' so it's gotta be at least 20 years old
Will have the new bearings pressed on the axles this week, and can then see what kind of free play I have or if I need some additional shims.

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Let's see what happened in the last 2 weeks? I had the timken axle bearings pressed on my axles in a shop here where they usually repair train axles and brakes, so packard parts were 'small' They heated the bearings to 130 degrees C, and then were able to slip them right on. In went the axles, and on went the freshly painted drum backing plates with self cut gaskets. Originally I had one spacer plate on the passenger side, and three plates on the driver side. This left the axle free play at too much (about 1,5 mm) I removed 2 plates from the driver side, and now have one plate on each side that brought the 'axial axle' free play into spec. Took a while to comprehend and adjust, but looks good now.
Also got the front steering together and sway bar installed. Next up is to finish the brakes and get this thing sitting on 4 wheels!
Here is one thing I noticed, the nut that holds the pitman arm onto the steering box is 1-7/16 -the same size as the pinion gear nut.

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Oops, anybody else see what is wrong with this picture?
(New wheel cylinders and springs are in the mail -but besides that, something else is not right)

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I believe the sheet metal grease deflector or whatever they call it is on upside down.

With all this lovin' she's going to drive terrific.

I believe the sheet metal grease deflector or whatever they call it is on upside down.

Good call, HH. Isn't there a weep hole in the backing plate for liquefied grease to seep out? And with the plate upside down, the weep hole will be covered by the plate rather than aligning with the cavity in the plate.