92 BRM 5.7/350 rear main seal replacement

I wanted to ask the masters if they could give me any helpful hints on changing the rear main seal on my wagon. I have looked on You Tube and found some videos that show them replacing a 2 piece seal with the engine still in the car. I looked up the parts and it showed a 1 piece seal for my 1992 Roadmaster. Now I am confused which seal do I need? Will the 2 piece seal work on my motor? Do I need the 1 piece and do I have to drop the trans or pull the motor? Thanks in advance for any help or tips.

Do you have an oil cooler option?

if so i,d check the oil filter housing/adapter to block seals first before pulling a rear main seal,.

No oil cooler option

You have the choice of dropping the trans or pulling the engine. It is about the same effort either way. If you do not have a lift, the easiest way is to pull the engine and trans together, and separate them outside of the car. Just put a seal over the back of the trans to keep the fluids from running our. The engine/trans bolts are a pain to get to in the car. You also have to pull the flex plate to access the seal cover and the seal itself.

One caution, the trans mount is difficult to get if yours is broken. The one available from the parts store does not fit. The height of the rubber mount is much taller, and you will not be able to get the trans over the crossmember. Even if you did get it in place, the trans will sit about 3/4 of an inch to an inch higher than the stock height. I do not have a part number for the correct part. There are a couple spacers under the trans mount, but removing them will not get you enough additional room for the available mount.

I would disagree in saying that pulling the engine is the same effort as just pulling the trans. I'd call the trans job easier, even without a lift.

JM2C
IME
IMO
BBQ

I was about to change the rear main seal on my old 92 when I got underneath to look and decide if it was easier to yank just the tranny or pull the whole thing out the top. That's when I discovered that the leak was actually a couple of pinholes rusted through the side of the oil pan, above the normal oil level. I changed the oil pan and the leak was gone. So I'd suggest getting underneath and having a real close look before committing to anything.

Oh, and yes, the 92 has a 1 piece seal. It eventually got changed years later when we put the motor in my son's truck.

Also the oil pressure sensor is in the same area there, and that's prone to leaking. That's my current problem and it's soaked the rear of the engine in oil, it does quite look like a leaky rear main seal.

Further - the rear seal on the intake leaks like a sieve when it goes, and it WILL coat everything under your car in oil. I promise.


Rear main is a bit drastic. Get under with a nice mirror, some degreaser, and observe.

i would pull the trans to do the job. i have but on a lift it took 2.5 hrs. on jack stands it will take longer and more cursing