56 T bird questions

[32phil]

Can you remove the oil pan on a 312 ( to repair a main seal leak) while the engine is still in the car? Can you repair/replace the rear main seal with the engine still in as well?
Also is there a way to eliminate the rear mounted tire and replace it with a 55 style bumper? Thanks for your help.

[Oldmics]

Drop the idler arm and the pan comes out easily.

As far as the rear bumper-a 55 rear (or front) bumper looks odd on the back of a 56 T Bird.
The ends of the bumper on a 55 do not extend far enough along the quarter panels (when viewed from the side) to do the 56 car justice.

I was a lucky one and acquired a bumper somebody put together off of eBay for my 56.

It uses both of the end sections of a 56 bumper with some other bumper material filling in the center section where the continental kit spare would reside.

I have had a bunch of comments regarding where to acquire such a bumper.Unfortunatly I dont know donor bumper was used to provide the center section material.

The 55 bumper will fit-it just looks like crap.

It will also handle much better with all that weight off of the rear end.

Oldmics

[paul2748]

You can replace the rear seal while the engine is still in the car. You have to undo the main caps and bring down the crank a little so you can slide the upper part in.

If you are using the neophrene seal, offset the ends so they do not line up with the parting surface.

[paul2748]

Originally Posted by 32phil

Also is there a way to eliminate the rear mounted tire and replace it with a 55 style bumper? Thanks for your help.

I have seen a number of 56's done this way. One is a member of the local TBird club. Its a fair amount of work as the rear pan has to be reworked.

[32phil]

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Thank You all for your comments. The rear seal repair sounds easier than the rear bumper change !!