BEVO76

I spent this weekend redoing the oil pan gasket which was leaking from the rear, and was slinging oil everywhere between the oil pan and the trans pan. This was do to the gasket getting pushed out from a crankcase pressure issue that I had. The pan has sealed and is dry as a bone. However, i am getting a drip on the bottom of the rear main cover. I have new oil in the engine so it should be very clean. The drip that I am seeing is dirty and black. My question is this a rear main leak or left over reminants from my previous leak?

Pics to follow

BEVO76

Leak prior to changing the oil pan gasket. You can see where the gasket has bulged/been pushed out.

BEVO76

This is what it looked like right after I finished changing the oil pan gasket. Dry and surgically clean.

BEVO76

Here is the dirty oil drip after running the engine for 15 minutes. Notice that the oil is very dirty and not clean after changing the oil.

BEVO76

Bottom line is this a 1 piece rear main leak?

BEVO76

If this is a rear main leak it would be a great oppertunity to pull the old th350 and replace with a beefed up TCI 350 or 400. Seeing I will need to drop the trans to get at the rear main.

BEVO76

Went and looked at it again from my view its a rear main leak.....this is awesome. Screw it new trans on the way might as well upgrade if im going in there.

Cant believe I didnt get any feedback from you guys! Normally yall are pretty good....oh well. Happy Holidays!

htown81vette

It does look like a rear main seal leak. just my .02

BEVO76

Yep thats what I figured. Dry as a bone when not running. A very small spec of oil at idle, and the big drips show up when reving the engine or under load....all the signs are there.

Any recomendations on a beefed up th350? Will I notice a difference between a TCI Streetfighter and a a stock th350?

Peterbuilt

If your rear main seal is two piece it's easy to change, have you checked what you have?

htown81vette

He said it was 1-piece.

*Edit* - from the looks of it, it has a 1-piece design, I can see the seal housing.

htown81vette

I would avoid TCI but that is just me. Call Circle-D here in Houston, they are excellent.

BEVO76

It is a one piece.

Circle-D I will check them out.....going to do it in the spring.

htown81vette

They will treat you right. AND they won't make you spend money you don't need to spend, they are very honest.

BEVO76

Taking the vette to a shop on 01FEB, I got a great deal on a trans rebuild that I just cannot pass up. I am going to have it built to handle the 500hp thats in front of it with a stage 2 shift kit. While they are in there they can tackle the rear main as well. Stoked about the trans rebuild, guess this was the old girls way of saying hey we need a tranny upgrade.

htown81vette

There ya go!

They'll whisper in our ear, if we choose not to listen the next one will be whap upside our head! LOL.

7t9l82

Tranny upgrade,what's Bruce jenner got to do with it?

htown81vette

BEVO76

Oh now thats funny haha. Been a while hope all is well.

BEVO76

Lol I like it. She also whispers about a new suspension from time to time. Like an old girlfriend never happy.