I just pulled my engine for a rear main seal oil leak, again. Anyway, I want to get the main bearing caps off, they won't budge and appear to be a press fit. I ordered my Helms last week, just trying to get as much done before I require a manual.

Anyway, can anyone with a Helms manual please elaborate?

 

Have you removed the side bolts first?? The mains have a detent into which the side bolts 'lock'. Both are very lightly torqued, only about 15 ft/lb.

I must ask, why disturb the bearings and caps for a rear seal??

 

The main bearing caps are held on by two bolts on the top, and two on the side.

 

Thanks guys. After replacing the seal once, and having it go bad again, I want to check the bearings to make they're not worn. Worn main bearings can cause the crank shaft to spin in an eccentric pattern, thus wearing the oil seal and causing an oil leak.

BTW, caps are pretty hefty and the oil pan have a sort of windage screen built into it !

 

you mean something like this? Yes the caps are hefty, but I don't think you need to be removing them. I'd doubt there is anything wrong with them and believe they don't need to be disturbed.


I have to get a better photo host, pictures died/

 

Good news on the bearings, the wear patterns are very minor. I can still see, very clearly, the grooves that are machined into the bearings when they are new.

I think my seal blew a second time due to a pinched hose that's supposed to vent the crankcase. The hose that Comptech supplied was too short and was pinched off. I guess the pressure in the crankcase was enough to off set the gasket and wear it out.

I had to check everthing just to be sure

Thinjim, all I see are red X's.

 

I'm impressed, the 3.2 is a stout mother f___!

 

try right click on the pic and clik "show picture", that may work. I need to do a photo host, can you name a cheap one?

 

How tough is it to pull the motor on these cars? Can it be done easily by lifting out or does it have to come out with the sub assembly through the bottom?

 

That's gonna be one helluva motor.

 

I wanna see

Is it his sleeved 3.5 block?

 

Rehost of ThinJim's Motor

 

Here's a folder to view a few pics of the progress. Started this last August. The pistons we're the hangup. It took 6 months to get the pistons and another month to get them coated. I'm going to Greece Sunday, for a few weeks, then it's assembly time. Heads are in the shop and should be completed by the time I come back with new valves, springs, retainers, and cams. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/trlloy.../ph//my_photos

 

I pulled the motor in 2.5 hours. It was my second time, so it went abit faster than last time. I also had to remove the IC/SC. I took it out the topside, hood area.

 

I see. Are the heads gonna be ported and polished or anything? And are you getting a custom camshaft? I assuming the heads are gonna be pretty custom to get the kind of power you are shooting for.

Sorry for the hijack.

Thats pretty cool that its that easy to pull out. Do you just yank out the whole motor and trans together?

 

No problem, can't wait to see some #'s ThinJim ! Are you gonna beef up the transmission too?

Since I needed to change the rear main oil seal, I just pulled the motor.