Cork rear main seal opinions?

[jetmek]

I havent found much info regarding this type seal. I dont think they are available currently. Has anyone got any feedback as to how well they work. Or dont?

[jetmek]

Nobody has any comments on this?

[Flathead]

Wasn't aware of a two piece style seal, interesting.

[rotorwrench]

There are two different groove widths and the difference isn't very much but try cutting composite cork to get a too wide one to fit and then you can see why they provide both widths. They need to fit tight in the groove so only one is needed.

[ursus]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

There are two different groove widths and the difference isn't very much but try cutting composite cork to get a too wide one to fit and then you can see why they provide both widths. They need to fit tight in the groove so only one is needed.

They also need to fit snugly on crank journal, which has probably been turned down to a minus 10-30 thousandths.

[jetmek]

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This is a seal for the rear main bearing with slinger removed. Not the bearing housing to oil pan cork

[MAG]

They seem to work great for a few hundred miles then they have the tendency to leak. And some times pretty bad. We just had one reversed. Welded the slinger back on the shaft and put it back like original. Lot of work but fixed the leak.

[Terry Burtz, Calif]

Originally Posted by jetmek

This is a seal for the rear main bearing with slinger removed. Not the bearing housing to oil pan cork

Those 2-piece cork seals were available from Snyder's for a very short time. If your diameter for the seal rubbing surface is between 2.090 and 2.150 inches, you can use the 1-piece modern radio lip seal that slips over the flywheel mounting flange.

Look for Bratton's #8970, Snyder's A-6336, Bert's A-6335-M, and others.

[Smokedtires]

Just tried installing a 1 piece rear main cork seal and it was too tight to fit into the groove. Will let the cork soak in oil overnight and try again tomorrow.

[jetmek]

Thnx. I figured like most pack type seals once they wear a little they start to leak

[rotorwrench]

If cork worked well for a rotational seal, Ford would have used it. In later years, they went back to the rope type seals. Modern fluorocarbon and fluorosilicone lip seals eventually showed up due to successful use in the aerospace industry.

The big oil slinger ring was hard to beat in the technology of the day. It required a drain tube that was protected from crankcase pressure so that's what they used and it does work as long as all the components involved are in serviceable condition.

[katy]

Originally Posted by Smokedtires

Just tried installing a 1 piece rear main cork seal and it was too tight to fit into the groove. Will let the cork soak in oil overnight and try again tomorrow.

Good luck w/that, it's been my experience that when cork is soaked in a liquid it expands, .YMMV

[Smokedtires]

Originally Posted by katy

Good luck w/that, it's been my experience that when cork is soaked in a liquid it expands, .YMMV

Hopefully Les Andrew's Vol.1 didn't steer me in the wrong direction. Once I replace the timing gear and add oil I guess I'll find out.