Is there a writeup on how to replace the rear main seal?
 

I just tried to start my car for the first time, and oil is leaking above the bellhousing. I think it is the rear main seal. How difficult is this to replace? Will I have to remove the engine? A writeup would be nice. I tried Clark's but the site is under construction.

http://www.clarks-garage.com/
You goto the right site? They haven't updated the site since 2005..

The site itself is fine, but the writeup for Rear Crankshaft Seal is obsolete.

Sorry, I didn't look before I said that.

No prob. Anyone else want to fill me in??

Hi, if you do it in the car look at clutch replacement on Clarks garage as it will involve those steps. Or do you have a shop manual handy? It will take you alot of time for the rear seal replacement and you might want to consider having the flywheel resurfaced, new flywheel bolts and if the clutch disc linings are worn replace the clutch while you are at it. You will have to pull the rear transaxle and push the torque tube back as far as you can to access the clutch if you are doing it with the engine in the car.

if leaking above the bell housing, it might be the cam tower seals instead. considerably easier job than main seal.

if doing main and clutch, also check torque tube bearings at this time.

If it's leaking at the top of the bell housing, it isn't the rear main. One of two other places...either the cam tower or the small plate on the back of the cam tower. Either way, get it fixed because it can leak oil on the headers and I have a friend that ignored his until it caught his engine on fire.

As already stated, changing the rear main seal means pull the engine forward or removing the transaxle and pulling the torque tube back as it goes through the middle of that round seal.

Well, all I could see is oil dripping down the fly wheel. I can't see the leak when looking from the top of the engine. Does this still sound like it could be the cam tower??

You'll have to look around the cam tower to tell for sure but if you see oil on the flywheel, especially if it's in front, then it's probably the rear main. I thought you meant it was leaking above the bell housing.

I saw the oil leaking down the front of the flywheel. How long does the installation of the rear main take? Is it quicker to pull the whole engine out?

Never done it with the engine in the car. Basically you have to do the clutch job proceedure. It's very easy to do with the engine out.