Replacing the rear main seal on a GTC | FerrariChat
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Replacing the rear main seal on a GTC

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by SCantera, Apr 2, 2013.

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  1. SCantera

    SCantera F1 Veteran
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    Aug 4, 2004
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    Living Falls NC
    #1 SCantera, Apr 2, 2013
    My car has a leaking rear main seal. Not sure what happened as the engine had been rebuilt bottom to top about a year and a half ago. Bad seal maybe......

    I have the Angelo Wallace manual which details the procedure for removing and replacing the clutch assembly. That seem pretty straight forward. However once the clutch assembly and flywheel are removed is there enough access to remove and replace the rear main seal? My shop is concerned that they will have to pull the engine to accomplish the task.

    I have never tried this on either of the GTCs I cared for. I did a rear main seal replacement on my BB back about 20 years ago. Did not have to remove the engine for that project. But obviously the engine is in a somewhat different location :eek:)

    Just wondering if anyone knows if this can be accomplished w/o removing the engine.

    thanks in advance
    Steve
    GTC s/n 9593
     
  2. gabemorales

    gabemorales Karting
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    Jun 20, 2012
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    Gabe Morales
    #2 gabemorales, Apr 2, 2013
    Should be no problem, once you remove torque tube and clutch housing should be pretty straight forward. Hope this helps.
     
  3. SCantera

    SCantera F1 Veteran
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    #3 SCantera, Apr 2, 2013
    Much appreciated Gabe. I'll let Eric know.

    best
    Steve
     
  4. Jamie H

    Jamie H Formula 3
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    #4 Jamie H, Apr 2, 2013
    I just looked at the one we have in the shop at the moment and you should lots of room to work.
     
  5. Motob

    Motob Formula 3
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    Nov 11, 2003
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    Brian Brown
    #5 Motob, Apr 3, 2013
    Are you sure that it is the rear main seal that is leaking? They pretty much never leak. It is much more common for the rear of the sump where it mates to the rear main cap or the rear main cap to leak oil. You need to pull the engine to repair either of these leaks. I would spend some time getting the rear of the engine spotless before running it to find where it is leaking from.

    There are two o-rings on the studs for the main bearing cap that are often overlooked, and there is a rubber seal that fits in a groove on the cap that seals the sump. These are much more common areas of oil leakage than the main seal, especially if it is only a year and a half old. Look at the parts manual for an idea of what they look like.
     
  6. SCantera

    SCantera F1 Veteran
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    #6 SCantera, Apr 4, 2013
    Brian......I am looking at the exploded view in the parts book. I see what you are saying about the two o-rings on the studs and the "Guarnizione gomma" in the groove sealing the sump. As you noted....replacing either is engine out. Bummer.

    Oh well........I guess the upside is an opportunity for me to do a engine detail freshening.
     
  7. SCantera

    SCantera F1 Veteran
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    #7 SCantera, Apr 4, 2013
    It turned out to be the rear main seal was the culprit. Apparently we were sold a very old NOS seal. It did not have the proper angle lip seal that "splays" when under pressure. Both the main cap and big sump seal were dry. When under pressure the main seal would leak a slow but steady drip.

    Problem solved w/o an engine removal.......whew!!
     
  8. bill365

    bill365 F1 Rookie

    Nov 3, 2003
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    #8 bill365, Apr 4, 2013
    Congratulations !!
     

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