In reality there is no "seal" at the back of a TR Vanguard type
engine. There is what we like to call the "magic scroll". A scroll
is machined into te crank which as the engine turns "encourages"
the oil to drain back in the direction of the oil pan. It acts on
a similar principal as an auger bit in displacing soil. There is
also an aluminum split shell that bolts to the back of the block
through which the crank end passes. This aluminum shell fits very
close to the crank surface but does not touch it. This seems to act as
a secondary line of defense if the scroll becomes too inundated with
oil. If all these parts are in good shape then very little oil will
make it out of the engine to foul our planet or your driveway.
An alternative to consider is a modification which involves machining
down the scroll on the crank (gasp!) and fitting an adapter in place
of the aluminum shells that holds a late type neoprene lip style oil
seal. i know a few people who have done this mod and are quite
satisified. The seal in question is a late Rover part so is easily
obtainable for subsequent rebuilds. I have this mod on an engine I'm
building up for a '57 TR3, but its not up and running yet so i cannot
personally attest. Some people are reluctant to go this route because
of the turning down of the crank is irreversible.
This kit is available from British Frame & Engine (Ken Gillanders)
or from Racestorations in the UK. Addresses for both are out there
someplace, I don't happen to have them in front of me at the moment.
Kurt Oblinger - Poster child for the So. California Shipwrights
Disease Association.
54 TR2
57 TR3
62 Vitesse Convt
80 TR7 Convt
54 Swallow Doretti
64 Mini-Cooper S
72 Norton Comando Roadster
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Rear engine seal
Author: Allan=W.=McClure%FACENG%UMASS@BANYAN.UMMED.EDU at smtpgate
Date: 08/08/95 08:36 AM
I rebuilt the engine of my TR3A back in '74, ran it for two years, then put
it in storage for the next 16 years until I had the time, place, and money to
have the body restored. The rear engine seal leaked right after the rebuild
and of course it still is - it's not bad, just enough to mark my car's
territory so I live with it. Looking at a J.C. Whitney catalog the other
day, I saw an ad for a tool set which is used for removing and replacing a
rear engine seal without dismantling the engine (not sure if you need to
remove the engine from the car itself). The ad describes removing neoprene
or felt type seals. Now I know most items from J.C.W. are for American cars
so I'm somewhat skeptical of this tool, but has anyone ever heard of this?
If this can be done for American cars, might there be a way to do this for
LBC's? Any thoughts?
Al McClure
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