Greetings from California

[Mich_Weishmier]

Hello everyone,

I'm Michelle from Santa Monica Los Angeles.

Hope to learn so many things here in the coming days

Cheers

[bob k. mando]

hidey ho, neighbor.

[Mich_Weishmier]

hello... good evening sir.... where are you from? Santa Monica neighbor? hehe

[bob k. mando]

nope, midwest.

just making a Wilson from Home Improvement joke.

[Psymaster]

Greetings all,

Gary from Oakland, California, where we strive to be number 1 in crime! Sad but true.

I'm debating whether I should get my Rear Main Seal replaced or just rebuild the motor. The 350 doesn't burn oil and has only 45,000 original miles on it but it is 43 years old. I'd also need to find a reputible shop in my area that know Buick motors.

Thanks!

[Utah Blaine]

Compared to the mileage of my engine yours isn't broken in yet

[carmantx]

Welcome from Texas everybody

[bob k. mando]

I'm debating whether I should get my Rear Main Seal replaced


you can replace the oem rope seal with a new, neoprene. the designation for the rear main should be
Victor# JV618 ( Ford 460 rear main - NAPA )

the front main seal can be replaced by a neoprene specced for the Buick 231 from 1980. the Buick 350 can share timing covers with the Buick v6 engines as well as most of the Land Rover v8 engine up to the mid-80s.

if you actually do a full rebuild, be sure and do the oil passage mods.

[Psymaster]

I'm debating whether I should get my Rear Main Seal replaced


you can replace the oem rope seal with a new, neoprene. the designation for the rear main should be
Victor# JV618 ( Ford 460 rear main - NAPA )

I'm guessing that is what TAPerformance is selling for a better replacement option than the ROPE.

the front main seal can be replaced by a neoprene specced for the Buick 231 from 1980. the Buick 350 can share timing covers with the Buick v6 engines as well as most of the Land Rover v8 engine up to the mid-80s.

This is good information, thank you.

if you actually do a full rebuild, be sure and do the oil passage mods.

I started looking for this thread in the forum, then I thought why not ask if you have a link to this.

Do you think the cost of replacing the seal at a shop warrants a total rebuild?

Gary

[bob k. mando]

I'm guessing that is what TAPerformance


it's either the same thing or perhaps the TA unit is *slightly* more specific to the Buick. it's good that you're aware of TA already. they're the only major Buick specialist retailer.



then I thought why not ask if you have a link to this.


*drums fingers on table*

my, aren't we demanding?



http://www.teambuick.com/forums/show...l-Passage-Mods




Do you think the cost of replacing the seal at a shop warrants a total rebuild?


the rear main seal and the rear main seal only?

no.

there are guys who do this with the engine still in the car. the shop should also be capable of this. they'll probably want to take your hood off, pull the bolts out of the engine mounts and cherry pick the block.

then they can drop the oil pan and rear main and loosen the other caps.

but you should talk to your trusted mechanic and see what he wants to do.