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Replace front main engine seal while engine in car- possible?


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The condition is:

 

I have a 1984 GL 4WD Wagon, and the engine is out of it.  

 

The oil pump, and crank pulley are removed. 

 

The front main engine seal needs to be replaced.  

 

Can I replace the front main engine seal after I put the engine back into the car?  I wonder if there will be room to do this. 

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Wonder no more, done it several times. Radiator out is very first step, then crack the 22 mm nut by starter motor crank over with breaker bar jammed in either a tow tie down loop or braced against the ground with 600 mm breaker bar, then disconnect battery

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my guess is they want to install the engine and test run it before putting any money into parts. 

 

pull the radiator first if you are going to install the engine then do the seal later...although if you're wanting to test the engine first that might not be the convenient option.  but then you have more room to work on it, less risk of damaging radiator and if engine is out radiator is presumably empty anyway. 

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my guess is they want to install the engine and test run it before putting any money into parts. 

 

pull the radiator first if you are going to install the engine then do the seal later...although if you're wanting to test the engine first that might not be the convenient option.  but then you have more room to work on it, less risk of damaging radiator and if engine is out radiator is presumably empty anyway. 

 

I did an EA81 crank seal and oil pump reseal last week.  Didn't touch the radiator.  Just pressed seal in by hand, no hammering.

 

There is plenty of room to do both without removing radiator.  

 

Why drain all that coolant if you aren't otherwise opening the system?  

 

And FYI, subaru still sells an ea81 "reseal" kit with all 4 orings and the flat gasket for like $9 bucks for the kit.   I ordered 4 kits to keep them on hand.

 

Get em while you can.

Edited by Gloyale
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