Info needed: rear main rope seal replacement on 216 engine

[Richard Nixon]

Has anyone replaced the rope seal with a new neoprene type seal on the 216 engine?

While I have my engine in bits, my mechanic friend and I were looking at machining the rear of the block to take a modern seal. Is it worth it? any pitfalls?

[Grant Bowker]

Do I have direct personal experience? No! I'm glad this hasn't caught up with me yet.

There are many threads on stovebolt.com if you go to the forums and enter rear main seal in the search box.

[chris vickery]

Yes, I have done it before with the rope seal while the crank was still in place. By the way it was a bitch of a job.
If my block was torn down I would certainly opt for the new type seal and get away from the rope ones.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Richard


If you do go to the rubber seal instead of the rope original style, please take lots of pictures of the process.


One other thing to consider if you are replacing a rear or front seal and are not having the crank redone consider putting speedi sleeves on the crank it is a quick easy thing to do and probably makes a better sealing surface.


Cheers Phil

[Richard Nixon]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts - I will have a look on Stovebolt. If I go for it I'll take photos!! (I say me - Mark Crunden my able mechanic friend!)