My new 347

[CDW6212R]

I would inspect the rear main seal area carefully, and leave the seal in place if it didn't leak. Don't get much brake or carb cleaner on the seal when cleaning things up, if you might keep that seal. As Woody said the seals get a bad rap, so if it's okay I'd keep it.

 

[Dono]

Its so hard to take pictures of this stuff. I'll take all kinds of pics and hopefully something can be seen.
I had a unusually aggravating day at work, so I didn't get the tc nuts off, trans harness, or hood off.
Tim thinks he can spend some time tomorrow here, so with any luck we can see the issue, fix it, and seat the motor back in the bay tomorrow. Then I can do the rest myself.

 

[Dono]

Frustrating day, but things got done.
Super hot, and super humid. Internal temperatures went even higher.

The day started great, it was promising.
Then motor was being stubborn coming out. Then, murder scene. Torque converter was coming out with motor. Red synthetic stinky oil everywhere.

Motor comes out and we pull the flex plate off to find it is indeed the oil pan leaking at the U right at the rear main.
No problem, thats good. Off comes the pan, and we find all gear bits in the bottom. BONUS! Were doing great. Flip motor upside down and clean all surfaces perfectly. We do a dry fit of the pan, and it looks great. We did notice and think the pan bolts might be a hair too long, so off to the hardware store for lock washers as that will make sure the bolts don't bottom out.
Next step....we used right stuff black gasket maker on both U channels. Both sides of the gasket and in the recesses. Then....Pan won't sit quite right. We pull it back, and the oil sump it way too close for comfort on an angled portion of the pan causing a slight issue (maybe not a big deal, but better to fix it). A bit of quick clearancing, and back on with the pan.
I then ran a bead of right stuff around the back of the pan to rear main U to make sure I had a second seal back there. Can't hurt.

Then, excited to get the motor back in we started at it. Well, it was painful at best. We just couldn't get the motor seated to the trans properly. Tim's laying in synthetic stinky trans fluid, overheating. I don't blame him. Tim did manage to get the motor seated to the trans and Torque converter nuts on. Perfect. Tim's a god for persevering the 'discomfort'. And, I am being gentle when I say that. We should probably have walked away from it and cooled off inside for a while.

Now, I have some more work to do.
Step 1. Clean up from stinky red crap.
Step 2. Relax, and work at the hardest bolts under the truck first.

I have a few pics, and I'll upload them later.

 

[4pointslow]

Engine

Good job guys!
That is awesome that you saw the leak, now there is no guessing.
Got the teeth out too, that is a relief.
Sucks when the torque converter sticks to the flex plate, damn fluid going every where. Tim sure is a good friend, he even got in the fluid spill to help with the hard parts.
My hats off to you both for persevering.
It will be back up and running again soon I am sure!

 

[Dono]

Im still stressed.
As Woody put it...You didn't do anything wrong, but you need to try something 'different'.
He said the steel stamped pans from ford are usually pretty good. The original pan gasket was in 'dry' on a assembly line. How can an assembly line be better than love, attention and research? Obviously something can be learned here.

Its so hot here, I spent the night outside with only shorts on. I just kept thinking winter will be here soon enough, embrace the heat (and mosquitoes). If you don't hear from me again, I still have an issue with the motor requiring a 'pull' again, and I'm laying in a pool of my own blood peacefully.

 

[CDW6212R]

Great job guys. Well done Tim for being that great friend for Don.

I hope it runs fine now, no more odd leaks or noises, and the good stuff can begin fully. Regards,

 

[vroomzoomboom]

Its so hot here, I spent the night outside with only shorts on. I just kept thinking winter will be here soon enough, embrace the heat (and mosquitoes). If you don't hear from me again, I still have an issue with the motor requiring a 'pull' again, and I'm laying in a pool of my own blood peacefully.

i still feel burnt out from yesterday. it was like Africa hot laying in atf (and having it also drip on you). i think at one point don thought i was having a heart attack with the amount of sweat pouring off me! i feel bad because my weekend turned to hell by being pulled in three different directions and not being able to help him out more. i will say this however. we know its fixed. the first time it went in easy. this time, total *****. it was the same with my truck. first time it went in easy, the second time....well some of you know that story. it was funny however, at one point im under the truck doing the converter bolts when i hear a "WHOOP!!!" followed by something brushing my hair. and those of you who have seen pics of me, or have met me know how long my hair is on top. the rather large breaker bar don was using to turn the motor slipped off the nut, and gravity took over. close, but no banana. after all, thats the chance you take working under the truck, right?

 

[4pointslow]

Prybar

Glad you didn't get hit by the prybar Tim. Those things hurt. lol.
Once I was prying under a vehicle and the prybar slipped off and I gave myself a fat lip. lol.

Dono, the mosquitoes would probably drain you off all blood before it hit the ground if they are anything like they are here. Damn little vampires!

 

[Dono]

heres a few pics. First one was the start of the pull on Monday.
I finished tonight needing to purchase a few fluids before I can start it.
Also, front pumpkin is in (thanks to my lovely wife for working the jack for me while I positioned the pumpkin), and I'll install the front axles tomorrow as well.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

that was fast. and in this heat, yuck. its like a billion degrees up here right now (yes, canada gets hot in the summer too!) as i said, were you hoping to take it to work monday lol

 

[4pointslow]

Fast

That was fast, it is amazing what you can accomplish in a weekend.
That was very kind of your wife to lend a helping hand.
Even though I try to keep all fluids on hand, there is always one that runs out right in the middle of trying to finish a job. lol. Never fails.

 

[Dono]

I used mobil1 synthetic as my mercon oil for trans, and for power steering.
I wasn't happy with my power steering after the first motor swap as the steering wheel seemed to stick a bit at times.
I want to use real power steering fluid to re-fill my reservoir. That's all I really needed to start the motor. That and some trans fluid to replace from the blood bath will be needed to top up the trans.

 

[Dono]

Same leak. Im speechless.

 

[4pointslow]

oil leak

Oh no!

 

[Dono]

Oh yes. How can this be? The pan doesn't looked cracked anywhere. I'm sure we used enough sealant this time. The leak is exactly the same. I just can't see the rear main weeping that badly.

This is very bad.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

i looked the pan over with a magnifying glass (for real) to and couldnt see anything. i mentioned this in ef chat and some of the guys are thinking warped pan, but it didnt look like it. idk...

 

[Dono]

The pan didn't look warped. I even ran that 2nd bead or right stuff around the U to either side of the pan. I can't see it being pan. If the pan gasket failed around that U, the 2nd seal was good and tight. That right stuff really stuck to the block and pan. We cleaned the crap out of all surfaces. Varsol, then brake cleaner.

I can do the same thing I did on the last pull, but actually pulling, and re-installing the motor was such a nightmare I don't know what to do. I think I could get the motor out myself, but reseating it myself?

Even with the motor out...What do I do differently this time?

 

[Turdle]

Don, this has also got my stomach in knots. Man I feel bad for you but yeah, it has to come out again.

Looking at the close up of the main seal area, I see a wet spot high on the seal.

Does your oil pan have the "torque spreader? bars on both sides?

I happen to have a spare steel oil pan you could have, with the torque spreaders, however it has met some rocks and has some questionable "dings" near the drain bolt area.

Last year when I was piecing together a replacement motor, in stock form, I encountered the same oil pickup problem as you with a new pickup, ended up using the old one because I could not get a good fit.

 

[4pointslow]

Rear Main Seal

I saw what looked like oil on the seal too. If it is the rear main seal, couldn't you just remove the transmission?

With a Harbor Freight Transjack that I bought for 150.00 I found the transmission easier to remove than my engine.
Of course I have the 4.0 SOHC though.

 

[Dono]

Im sure my oil pan is good.
There are spreaders on both sides.
Thanks for the offer though. Its really appreciated.

Yes, I just went numb when I saw the drips. I really thing that picture shows oil on the rear main also. It is dripping on to the oil pan first, making us think 'oil pan gasket'. That and the odds of it being rear main were super low.

Maybe if it hadn't been so hot, and we didn't rush so much we would have thought it thru. This time, we will get the motor on the stand and go slowly and relax.

Once again, Tim's all over me to help. Amazing.
Maybe he's just trying to keep me from lighting my truck on fire with me in it. I'm not sure.
I am still amazed that it might actually be the rear main seal this time. It's new, and they don't really fail.