Ackattack
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Poulsbo WA
I just got a 90 MJ last night from another forum member. It needs a new rear main seal.
So today I tore into it in hopes of getting it done in a few hours. Well it just wasn't meant to be. I got the oil pan off the engine fairly quickly, but can't get it out from under the engine....it's hitting the pump, axle, and/or bellhousing. I figure, OK, I'll just push it forward and continue on. So I take the rear main cap off, and then try to simply "push" the upper half of the rear main seal out. Well lets just say that it won't come out (probably why the PO mentioned that he'd only changed the lower half). So I figure I'll just suck it up and take the engine out. So I get to pulling stuff apart, labeling as I go. It takes awhile.
Finally I think I'm ready, just have to unbolt the tranny right? Well I can't get the stupid thing unbolted. I know there are two upper bolts that I can't see. Then the other thing is they're a weird bolt (reverse Torx type head...so I have to go buy some new sockets)
Now, I've worked on newer camaro/transams where its a similar situation, but I wasn't expecting this in a jeep.
I called a buddy who works on tranny's and he said they usually drop the tail down to get access to the upper bolts. So that's is where I'm at now, just need the right socket.
So what should have been about a 3 hr job has turned into a 9 hr job for today and probably another 10 hrs to finish it up. I'm probably going to have to unbolt all of the main caps and partially pull the crank out to get this stupid seal out.
I did learn one thing though....it's a lot easier to work on lifted jeeps than it is stock ones....cause this turd is stock, and my ZJ with 6" lift is easy in comparison.
So today I tore into it in hopes of getting it done in a few hours. Well it just wasn't meant to be. I got the oil pan off the engine fairly quickly, but can't get it out from under the engine....it's hitting the pump, axle, and/or bellhousing. I figure, OK, I'll just push it forward and continue on. So I take the rear main cap off, and then try to simply "push" the upper half of the rear main seal out. Well lets just say that it won't come out (probably why the PO mentioned that he'd only changed the lower half). So I figure I'll just suck it up and take the engine out. So I get to pulling stuff apart, labeling as I go. It takes awhile.
Finally I think I'm ready, just have to unbolt the tranny right? Well I can't get the stupid thing unbolted. I know there are two upper bolts that I can't see. Then the other thing is they're a weird bolt (reverse Torx type head...so I have to go buy some new sockets)
Now, I've worked on newer camaro/transams where its a similar situation, but I wasn't expecting this in a jeep.
I called a buddy who works on tranny's and he said they usually drop the tail down to get access to the upper bolts. So that's is where I'm at now, just need the right socket.
So what should have been about a 3 hr job has turned into a 9 hr job for today and probably another 10 hrs to finish it up. I'm probably going to have to unbolt all of the main caps and partially pull the crank out to get this stupid seal out.
I did learn one thing though....it's a lot easier to work on lifted jeeps than it is stock ones....cause this turd is stock, and my ZJ with 6" lift is easy in comparison.