QuestionHi Paul , I have a 58 plymouth with a 350 b motor that I had rebuilt about a year ago , now it started to leak while running. Is ther something that I can try without replacing it, Thanks Tim
AnswerTim, if my memory hasn't failed me, this is a "rope" type main seal.
You can buy a kit to remove the old rope seal and install a new one. It has a screw-in puller rod and a "Chinese handcuff" type of installation tool. It's called a "Sneaky Pete", and is made by Lisle. It's their part number 27000:
http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/lis27000.html
By all means use a Graph-Tite new main seal. These cure any and all leaks of rope seals, and I believe the manufacturers would have used them exclusively, had they been available back then.
http://www.bestgasket.com/about_our_products.asp
There will be instructions with the Sneaky Pete. Be sure you drain the oil pan, pull the rear main cap only, and disconnect the coil wire. Hook up the screw-in puller and jog the crank with a remote starter button or have a friend turn the key in tiny bursts, to ease out the old rope. Then slip the Chinese handcuff through the rope groove around the crank, fasten it around the new rope, and once again jog the crank by hitting the starter, while pulling the rope through its groove. When it's all done, trim it slightly long, fit the other half into the cap and trim it slightly long, lube it with STP or assembly lube, and torque the cap back into place.
Reassemble, fill with oil, turn over a bit, connect the coil wire, and start it up.
You should be good to go.
--Paul
