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Old 09-01-2010, 09:42 AM   #1
Texas Joe
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Default rear main leaking

1938 pickup,Can the rear main seal be replaced without pulling the engine?
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Old 09-01-2010, 10:03 AM   #2
Russ/40
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Default Re: rear main leaking

1938 flathead does not have a rear main seal. Nothing to change. They drip
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Old 09-01-2010, 11:13 AM   #3
oldford2
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Default Re: rear main leaking

The rear "seal" is just an oil slinger. Some oil gets by and that is why Henry made the drain hole with the big cotter pin to keep the hole open. Make sure you are not overfilling the crankcase. 4 quarts. 4 1/2 if you have a filter. John
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Old 09-01-2010, 02:00 PM   #4
RBaker
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Default Re: rear main leaking

Quote:
Originally Posted by oldford2 View Post
The rear "seal" is just an oil slinger. Some oil gets by and that is why Henry made the drain hole with the big cotter pin to keep the hole open. Make sure you are not overfilling the crankcase. 4 quarts. 4 1/2 if you have a filter. John
Well I just learned something else.....so my 38' 21 stud flathead only holds 4 quarts! I just put in 5 quarts 3 days ago.
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Old 09-01-2010, 02:50 PM   #5
oldford2
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Default Re: rear main leaking

Well, I hope I haven't started the oil capacity thing again. If I don't change the filter, 4 qts brings our 46 to the full line on the dipstick. John
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Old 09-01-2010, 03:04 PM   #6
RBaker
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Default Re: rear main leaking

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Well, I hope I haven't started the oil capacity thing again. If I don't change the filter, 4 qts brings our 46 to the full line on the dipstick. John
I seriously thank you for the info.....my engine has no oil filter and sure enough you are correct about 4 quarts in these older flatheads.
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Old 09-01-2010, 07:18 PM   #7
Bassman/NZ
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Default Re: rear main leaking

A common place modification on the prewar models was to make a little oblong tray from a suitable size tin or tin lid, and mount it on a piece of strap steel held on the engine by a bellhousing bolt. If you put a wing nut on the bolt holding the lid to the strap, you can empty it easily once a month.
I remember seeing this mod in Popular Mechanics back in the 50s or early 60s.
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