Holden V8 rope rear main seal installation

2 years ago
78

How to correctly install a rope rear main oil seal into Holden V8 block from HJ-VT.
Many people complain these seals leak and are difficult to install. The fact is the original seals from the 1970's through to the early 1990's were made with asbestos to handle the heat generated by a rotating crankshaft on first engine startup.
We actually spent a great deal of time on the dyno with various approaches to ensure the later seals would survive. The later seals including those made and sold today do not contain asbestos for obvious environmental and human health reasons.
Unfortunately this has created a situation where on start up these seals are very susceptible to literally burning up with the rotational drag of the turning crankshaft. To this end we found the application of molybdenum disulfide grease impregnated into the seal produces virtually the same heat protection for the seal as asbestos did in the earlier seals.
This is quite understandable considering the Moly grease is used regularly to coat camshaft lobes of cast iron cams to ensure they are safely run in without the possibility of dry metal to metal contact between camshaft lobes and flat tappet valve lifters.

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