Rear Main Bearing Cap Removal

[Dennis Putnam]

To remove the rear main bearing cap it appears there is a plate that needs to be removed first. However, the two bolts that need to be removed to hold it in do not appear to be normal (see attached). I cannot find socket that fits properly. It seems to be somewhere between 3/8 (too small) and 13/32 (slightly sloppy and turns on the bolt). How do I remove those bolts?

 

[69hemibeep]

Nothing special. That is the rear main seal retainer and a 12 point socket 3/8" I think, maybe 7/16" in a 3/8 drive fits mine. 1/2" drive socket is to fat

 

[Dennis Putnam]

Thanks. Finding a 12 point locally may not be a trivial task. I'd hate to have to wait for mail order.

P.S. The color of yours appears to be the same a mine (blue fire metallic).

 

[69hemibeep]

12 point is a regular socket they come in 6 and 12 FYI no insult intended this shows the difference https://www.finepowertools.com/hand-tools/6-vs-12-point-socket/

 

[quikbird]

Any hardware store should have it. Lowe’s, Home Depot definitely do.

 

[MoparDan]

Thanks. Finding a 12 point locally may not be a trivial task. I'd hate to have to wait for mail order.

P.S. The color of yours appears to be the same a mine (blue fire metallic).

I picked up a set of 12 point 1/4 drive sockets at Lowes.

 

[quikbird]

Am also concerned about amount of grit on bearing journal. Please clean it off and post another pic. Curious to see if it is scored at all.

 

[69hemibeep]

Thanks. Finding a 12 point locally may not be a trivial task. I'd hate to have to wait for mail order.

P.S. The color of yours appears to be the same a mine (blue fire metallic).

Yes it is B5

 

[Dennis Putnam]

After visiting a few auto parts stores I finally found a 12 point SAE set and that did indeed work. Everyone had 12 point metric but few had SAE. Now I can pull the crank and get the block to a machine shop. Thanks for the help.

 

[V.R.D]

read my post in the 383 rear main seal leak .

 

[MoparDan]

Am also concerned about amount of grit on bearing journal. Please clean it off and post another pic. Curious to see if it is scored at all.

To me that looks like the back of the bearing shell. But I still don't get any warm fuzzys from that picture

 

[gefoyi5177]

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It can help you.

 

[MoparDan]

Welcome to the group! I'll look at it.