360 Rear Main Seal

Evening all,

Any support appreciated, we have the engine out on a stand - 78 360 from a van.

Attempted to change the rear main seal by removing the pan, oil pump and rear main cap. Then carefully tapping the rope seal out with the crank in place still, failed big time, it just crushed up, the other side moved a fraction. The rope seal is now half an inch down on the side we tapped and only moved a fraction on the other.

So,

1. Any tips on removing the rope seal, its on a stand in the garage, I wasn’t expecting it to be a fight.

2. If we have to ‘loosen’ the crank how would you recommend doing so? Undo all of the mains caps and lift it up 1/8th of an inch?


Thanks in advance,

Steve