C30 230ci Rear Main Seal - Fel Pro part wrong?

[divideoverflow]

Hello! Started to tackle the rear main seal and oil pump replacement today in my 65 C30, and had a learning experience :-)
We tried to get the oil pan out without jacking up the engine... which did not work. So we undid the engine mounts, clutch linkage, trans mounts, and then got it up high enough to put a 2x4 under each engine mount attachment location (upper and lower). That gave us enough clearance to get the pan out.

Question regarding the rear main seal itself. The one that advanceauto sent me looks nothing like the one I pulled out. It looks like it is only half as wide, and doesn't have a center groove. I'm not sure if it was a part# mistake, or if Fel pro just makes the wrong part for this thing?

I ordered Felpro Rear Main Seal Set, Part No. BS 13241, which claims to be a perfect fit, and the picture looks like what is in the service manual I have (with the wings):


However, it is nothing like what is in there.
Original Seal:



New Seal:



There was no place for the "wings" to go at the rear main cap, and this would only fill one of the grooves in the main cap... not straddle the center ring of the cap like the original does.

So, is this engine a different year that wouldn't accept the "wing" style rear main seal? I'm afraid to order the "performance" version of the seal from Fel Pro, since I can't tell from the pictures if it is half-width like this one is.

Any help here? Am I missing something?

[TJ's Chevy]

If I remember right you may have to cut the wings off.....there should be some directions that would specify that. Not sure.

[divideoverflow]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

If I remember right you may have to cut the wings off.....there should be some directions that would specify that. Not sure.

Yeah, the concern was less about the wings and more about the fact that the seal is half the width of the one that is in there.

I went ahead and ordered the blue silicone felpro one. Pictures I've seen of that makes it look like a "normal" one with a channel in the middle.

[T and S]

The t -bar type main seal will not work in place of the one with the wings - ask me how I know.

[divideoverflow]

Originally Posted by T and S

The t -bar type main seal will not work in place of the one with the wings - ask me how I know.

Which one are you calling the T-Bar type and which one are you calling wings? And why are both specified for the same vehicle according to the parts stores (all of them I checked have the same part numbers)?

[T and S]

some where along the way their must have been a design change. I ordered the felpro "best" main seal for my 250, it would'nt fit at all - I had the type you have pictured. That is all I know, maybe some one more knowledgeable can chime in.

[PGSigns]

Been a long time since I worked on a 6 but from what I remember there were two types, the narrow that sat down in a single grove in the main cap and the wide, it sat in a wider grove that had what looked like two groves in the bottom of it and the seal sat down in the two groves. The one you pulled is the wider one. The one you got was the narrow. I was a Mercruiser mechanic in the late 70's to early 80's and saw this a good bit when doing the inline 4 and 6's they used in a lot of boats. Never knew till you pulled the cap as to what you had. The old full gasket sets had both in them.
Jimmy
Jimmy

[divideoverflow]

Originally Posted by PGSigns

Been a long time since I worked on a 6 but from what I remember there were two types, the narrow that sat down in a single grove in the main cap and the wide, it sat in a wider grove that had what looked like two groves in the bottom of it and the seal sat down in the two groves. The one you pulled is the wider one. The one you got was the narrow. I was a Mercruiser mechanic in the late 70's to early 80's and saw this a good bit when doing the inline 4 and 6's they used in a lot of boats. Never knew till you pulled the cap as to what you had. The old full gasket sets had both in them.
Jimmy
Jimmy

Thank you, Jimmy! So I could attempt to stuff the single groove one in there? Do I cut off the "wings" on the bottom piece of the gasket?

[storm9c1]

Thank you, Jimmy! So I could attempt to stuff the single groove one in there? Do I cut off the "wings" on the bottom piece of the gasket?

I don't think so. I think you need to put the same style new seal back in. Can't mix and match. Two different designs. Like he said, the old kits came with both designs. Nowadays you have to pull apart your engine and see what design you have before you order.

[chevybuldr]

Can you post a picture of the seal area on the block or main cap.