Pedigry
12-11-2023, 08:41 AM
Hey guys,
Swapping out the rear main seal on a man-o-war black 351 W this weekend. pulled the old one out and went to put in the new one (Felpro 2921). I bought a "speedy sleeve" as well since guys seem to swear by them. When I went to install the speedy sleeve or "repair" sleeve, it didn't fit over the crank. It was too small and was clearly short by at least a few thousanths. I thought it might "stretch" but there was just no way it was going on and i didn't want to force it.
So I cleaned the crank and the block as best I could and proceeded to try and install the seal. The seal went on really hard. Just to get the inside lip over the outside of the crank to get it started took quite a bit of work. I bought a 4" PVC pipe end to try and get it installed exactly straight but it got hung up. A section of the lip of the seal got caught on the block and flared the seal. Game over.
I ordered two more seals to try this again on Wednesday. My concern is this, why is my crank larger in diameter than a standard Ford 351 crank? The engine is a custom built motor. Stroker crank to 428, forged internals, man-0-war block, etc. I can only assume that since the speedy sleeve wouldn't go over the end of the crank that the crank diamter is larger than a standard 351. If that is the case, then it will make it harder to get the rear main seal started and consequently stretch it somewhat while going on. This in turn would increase the O.D. of the seal, making it more suseptable to catching the edge of the of the block (which obviouisly it did) and ruined the seal.
I have watch countless videos on people installing rear main seals and once the get them started, they are just gently hitting the install tool to seat the seal. This was not my experience. If you guys have any insight I would really appreciate it. This is my first rear main seal and i'm a bit frustrated.
thanks.
Swapping out the rear main seal on a man-o-war black 351 W this weekend. pulled the old one out and went to put in the new one (Felpro 2921). I bought a "speedy sleeve" as well since guys seem to swear by them. When I went to install the speedy sleeve or "repair" sleeve, it didn't fit over the crank. It was too small and was clearly short by at least a few thousanths. I thought it might "stretch" but there was just no way it was going on and i didn't want to force it.
So I cleaned the crank and the block as best I could and proceeded to try and install the seal. The seal went on really hard. Just to get the inside lip over the outside of the crank to get it started took quite a bit of work. I bought a 4" PVC pipe end to try and get it installed exactly straight but it got hung up. A section of the lip of the seal got caught on the block and flared the seal. Game over.
I ordered two more seals to try this again on Wednesday. My concern is this, why is my crank larger in diameter than a standard Ford 351 crank? The engine is a custom built motor. Stroker crank to 428, forged internals, man-0-war block, etc. I can only assume that since the speedy sleeve wouldn't go over the end of the crank that the crank diamter is larger than a standard 351. If that is the case, then it will make it harder to get the rear main seal started and consequently stretch it somewhat while going on. This in turn would increase the O.D. of the seal, making it more suseptable to catching the edge of the of the block (which obviouisly it did) and ruined the seal.
I have watch countless videos on people installing rear main seals and once the get them started, they are just gently hitting the install tool to seat the seal. This was not my experience. If you guys have any insight I would really appreciate it. This is my first rear main seal and i'm a bit frustrated.
thanks.