Classic/Antique Car Repair: Major oil leak Model A, splash pan, rear seal

Question
Jack,

I have a 1929 Model A with a major oil leak.  It appears that the rear mainseal has failed. When I drive the vehicle around the block and park it I have a heavy drip coming from the bottom hole of the clutch bellhousing.  My question to you is how difficult is this fix?  I figure I will have to pull the motor.  But will I need any special tools to replace the seal?  And, I am dreaming here, is there a way to fix it with the motor still in the vehicle?  Any and all advice will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jim

Answer
Jim, I am not an expert on the rear seal, but here is what I would do.  Drop the pan  an take a good look.  It could be just the rear pan seal.  That is easy to fix.  Drop the pan and watch out for the oil pump that will come out with the pan.  Also, be very careful of sharp edges on the splash pan that is within the oil pan.
Clean up the pan rail where the new seal will mount.  Remove the old seal around the rear main area.  This is just rope seal that is included with the new seal you buy.  Soak the new rope seal in oil for a day or two to soften it up.  Put on the new pan seal and cut and fit the new rope seal to the proper length.  Don't cut it short.  
Put the oil pump back in place and prop it up there by either a bolt in the small pipe plug hole, or a 1/4 inch rod pushed in the hole and held there by someone else or bend it to keep a force against the oil pump to keep the pump in place while you get the pan in place.  Work at it and you will figure out a way to keep the pump up there while you raise the pan.  Not easy, but we all do it.  

Tighten things down and check for your leak.  A little leak in that area is normal, but it should be only a few drops.  

If this does not fix it, you should be able to fix it with the engine in place.  For this repair, first get a copy of the model
a mechanic's handbook written by les andrews.  A very good book that we all have.  Costs about $35 or $40.  That will tell you what to do to fix your problem.

If your engine has been rebuilt, they may have put new features in the rear main area tht address the rear main leak.  Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.  The rear main is reaward of the end of the pan and a tube has to drain the oil forward into the pan.  Make sure that tube is in place.

Hope this helps.
Good luck, and get that book.
jack

JIm, the little rope seal is in the front and the cork seal around the rear main is a square section, but it still should be soaked in oil.  
jack