shifter rod seal r and r in car.

[oneblueyedog]

I was like r and r. Rest and relaxation to remove. I didn't have a removal tool. I made one out of a long screwdriver. I ground the tip down to a slender taper like an ice pick. Stuck it in to one side of the seal along the side of the shift rod. Pried to the rear of the car one time...the seal slipped forward along the shift rod. Like butter melting along hot corn on the cob. Awesome! I should patent it! One time! no patience necessary. No drops of Swepco! Showroom clean garage floor! And to think I was dreading this job. Get a bench grinder and make your day if you ever have this seal leak. Whahooooo!

[jeff1hughes]

got a picture of the tip, with some sort of reference for size (ie. a coin). I have to do this job and have been dreading it, yet you make it sound so easy.

[oneblueyedog]

I'll snap photo tonight. The screwdriver measured about 3/16 in diameter and about 7" long not including the handle. I tapered from the tip up 3" on a bench grinder. Sharp tip.

I reused my Swepco by draining it into a clean container and putting it back into the gallon jug. I had the car on 4 jack stands with the front a tad higher to have the oil drain back to the rear of the car. This made the end cover pretty well drained when I removed the seal. Just a drip came out after I pried the seal. I then washed the housing with Brake cleaner. I polished the shifter rod with Simichrome polish and a strip of t-shirt to a mirror finish (be sure to shift it into 4th to get the whole rod clean). I felt along the rod carefully for any burrs with my fingernail. I then cleaned it once again and applied silicone (grey type) to the inside of the end cover where the seal seats (not too much). I then pushed the seal on the rod and into the end cover.

Make sure your seal has the little spring inside as sometimes they have been known to be missing. My leaky one had the spring. I assume I had the leak on account of not using silicone seal when I resealed the transmission in Feb. out of the car.

Good luck.

Lee 78SC

[Flying Toaster]

pics of tool & any links on how-to-do the job would be helpfull. I have to attend to this asap as mine is urinating on the garage floor as I type. -John

[Jim Chambers]

Me too. Does this happen from inside the tunnel after removing the shift rod coupling? I haven't looked closely at it yet but I'm sure mine is leaking.

[HarryD]

Jim,

It's pretty obvious if it is leaking. Pull the inspection plate for the shift coupler and see if you got an ocean of tranny oil. Mine leaks and every few weeks I mop it up so it does not drip ont he floor.

Joel S has offered me access to a lift & his expertise this fall to pull the engine/tranny to replace the seal. I asked around a bit about doing it in place. The quality shops told me that you can get the old one out, but it it is very difficult to get the new seal set in place due to the limited clearances in the area.

[Jim Chambers]

I think I need to do a more thorough inspection. I have a puddle on the garage floor under the tranny mount. I assumed it was from the shift rod seal. I replaced the coupler a few weeks ago and it was dry in there. Maybe my leak is from the speedo shaft.

[Mike Kast]

any pic yet? I was thinking about using a cork screw.

[Flying Toaster]

Originally posted by Jim Chambers
I think I need to do a more thorough inspection. I have a puddle on the garage floor under the tranny mount. I assumed it was from the shift rod seal. I replaced the coupler a few weeks ago and it was dry in there. Maybe my leak is from the speedo shaft.

I'm in the same boat. Nothing in the shift coupler part, just all on the floor under the mount. LMK what you find. -John

[oneblueyedog]

Yes, you do unfasten the shifter coupler via allen screw. I pried my seal from between the body and trans mount.

Pelican has a good pictorial on their site.

Sorry for the delay in the picture. It's Photoshopped but it is exacty how it turned out.

Literally.

Lee 78sc

[tobluforu]

So you did this from under the car? I did this over the winter from inside the car. Took about an hour to get it out from inside the car. A lot easier then I thought it was going to be. My big prob was getting the tool into the seal. Once it was in it came right out.

[oneblueyedog]

Yes I did get the seal pried out from between the trans mount and body on my 78 SC. I did have to go into the car to slip it off the shifter rod.

Lee 78SC

[HarryD]

Originally posted by Jim Chambers
I think I need to do a more thorough inspection. I have a puddle on the garage floor under the tranny mount. I assumed it was from the shift rod seal. I replaced the coupler a few weeks ago and it was dry in there. Maybe my leak is from the speedo shaft.

Jim,

Come on by and I'll show you how the Valdez got started.