V8 crank rear rope seal

B

badrover

Member
image.jpeg I need to replace my rope seal. The engine is out to make things a little easier. Rimmer list a rear rope seal kit as shown in the photo. Wadhams don't list a kit but just a rear seal. This contains only the two rope pieces, without the other 2 rubber strips and the nail looking things. My question is, what are these for, where do they go and are they necessary?
 
The two rubber strips go in the side of the cap, between the cap and the block, but those are very early ones, later they were modified to a crucifix shape, but you won't know for certain what you need until the cap comes off. Chances are it will be the later type though. I can't think what the nails are for.
 
Thanks again Harvey. That makes sense as I remember having seen the cruciform rubber shapes in bottom end gasket sets I've bought in the past. The car is earlyish as its 1970, H registered so I'll take a look before I order. Do you know what year the seal was changed to the neoprene one? 1974, rings a bell but I may be wrong.
 
My guess is the nails look to be the same length as the two rubber cap seals and the cap seals have grooves in them. I reckon you fit the seals and cap with the plain sides of the seal facing the cap and block then tap the nails in the grooves to expand the seal tight.
 
cobraboy said:
My guess is the nails look to be the same length as the two rubber cap seals and the cap seals have grooves in them. I reckon you fit the seals and cap with the plain sides of the seal facing the cap and block then tap the nails in the grooves to expand the seal tight.
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I think you're right. I've been reading another forum that suggests they are to expand the existing seal in order to make a worn seal fit better.
 
PeterZRH said:
Why on Earth with the engine out would you not fit the later seal?
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Good question. I just assume that having the block machined to accept the later seal is expensive, awkward to transport and will necessitate a complete strip down, but may be wrong. It's a car that I plan to sell so I want it done properly, but with minimal expenditure. I just figured that a like for like replacement would be cheaper.
 
On you tube there are some guys in Australia fitting a rear rope seal to a v8 holden, looks very informative and they swear if done correctly it wont leak!
Clive.
 
The straight side seals were still around in '71. The nails are so you can hold the seals in while you push/tap the cap into place. You leave them out so the seal doesn't stick halfway out, then when its all tapped home you insert the two nails to press the seal against the wall. Not all kits have that setup because the side seals were originally also rope and getting them to stay in was a real pain, particularly with the aluminium blocks. I've often found people have given up and just filled the slots with silastic gasket after fitting the cap.

If the crank is out you do need to bed the seal in with a hammer handle as per the manual before fitting the crank.
 
My 1970 P5B has the cruciform seals.
We fitted TK Bedford pre-shaped rope seals to mine. Getting on thirty years ago now & still leak-free.
 
Thanks for all the inputs. Having just checked, it is indeed the straight side seals so I will order the rimmer kit, watch some you tube videos and keep my fingers crossed.
 
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