Rear Main? Engine out, any other work to do?

[neophyteguy]

I'm currently planning my trip back to Oz in December. I live in HK, but get back to Australia every few months. What this means is I typically plan out what I need to get done on my "holiday". Earlier this year, I was able to plan some work ahead of time and had the parts waiting for me when I was reunited with "STNDUP", my 1971 SIIA-Ex Mil LWB.

The day before I was going to put STNDUP back into storage for a few months back in August, I started it up and got a nostril full of an unfamiliar odour. This was certainly different from the typical start up smell. It seemed to be burning oil.

I climbed underneath and there was definitely nothing coming from the top end of the engine, nor the front. However, there was (what appear to be) oil dripping off the cross member. I've attached some pictures below that I took in August when this started. The vehicle hasn't been run since then.

I'm thinking the rear main seal needs to be replaced, so I'm expecting to need to take the motor out in December. The clutch has been acting a bit weird the past few times I've been home, so I'm thinking that maybe the seal had already been leaking a bit over time.

While the motor is out (assuming I get confirmation it's most likely the rear main), I'm planning to:

-Replace Rear Main Seal/T-Seals
-Replace Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing
-Replace Engine Mounts

Should I also replace the freeze plugs or is this better left alone if not leaking?

ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD ADD TO THE LIST?

Specialised Queries:

CLUTCH

-Is there a "best" brand for these parts?

ENGINE MOUNTS

-I'm sure that in the past I've read that the 2.25 Diesel motor mounts are better than the petrol. Is this true and if so, is there a "best" brand to use?

REAR MAIN SEAL
-This isn't the type of thing I want to replace due to having used a less than "best" seal. Does anyone recommend a "best" set of seals?

Thanks as always for any help you can offer! Unfortunately I have to plan these things well in advance to ensure I can get the work done in the allotted time.

Along those lines, should this be a pretty comfortable 2 day job? No, I haven't had the motor out before...........;-)

Cheers,
JRW

[JDNSW]

Looking at those pictures, I do not think that the oil is leaking from the rear seal. If it were leaking from there, it would primarily appear from the drain hole in the front of the flywheel housing, or if this is fitted with a wading plug, from the join between the bell housing and flywheel housing. This does not appear to be the case, but it appears to be coming from higher up. This is most likely from either the rocker cover gasket or from the oil feed pipe to the head. It could also be gearbox oil leaking from the selector shafts.

But the volume of it strongly suggests to me that it is being supplied under pressure, and that says it is the oil feed line.

I suggest further investigation before concluding that the engine needs to come out.

John

[neophyteguy]

Thanks as always John! I really don't want to take the engine out if not required.........

I am pretty sure it has the wading plug in it.

It came on pretty quickly. Of course, it's always marked its spot but suddenly the smell was something that happened pretty quickly and the oil on the cross member had increased significantly.

I guess if the Rocker Cover Gasket was leaking on the backside, then that could explain the location. Also, if the oil was leaking down the back side of the engine then that could explain the smell even as the engine was warming up.

Thanks again mate! I'm sure I'll be checking in here frequently during Dec-Jan as I frantically try to get myself out of a self-induced Landie fixing trance.....