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. 

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

Sure, it's not hard.

 

But it's way easier while the engine is out.

Does the oil pump need to be primed after I put it in?

Why would you not change it while the engine is out ?  It's much easier that way. 

 

If the engine is out change all the seals at the same time.

Does the oil pump need to be primed after I put it in?

Crank the engine with the coil lead disconnected for a few seconds.

 

Then fire it up.

They’re always done in the car. Unless it just happens to be out for some other reason.

 

Like someone said why in the world wouldn’t you do it now while it’s easy?

maybe not at hand and they wanna fit engine before seals n stuff arrives??

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. 

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 March 26, 20188 yr by Gloyale

Subaru actualy sell each part separately here and calls it a kit with all four bits at about 27 bucks. Japan cotrols the pricing !