Wrong gasket??
 

I know this will sound pretty basic, but I'm wondering if I bought the wrong rear main bearing cap gasket. I'm trying to figure out how to get the gasket in the groove. It was too long so I cut off the end to make the length fit. The gasket measures about 3-16ths wider than the groove and I'm getting frustrated trying to squeeze 10 lbs of stuff into a 5 lb bag. Doesn't want to compress. Wrong gasket or some trick to getting it to fit? Attached pix of gasket and groove.

Re: Wrong gasket??
 

There is two different size rear oil pan seals. the 28-29 part is 13/32 wide. The 30-31 part is 3/8 wide. Remember, main bearing caps may have been swapped over the past 80 years.

Re: Wrong gasket??
 

When you get the proper one don't cut it!

Re: Wrong gasket??
 

You have to cut the rear oil pan seal to the proper length. They are all too long. They need to be the length of the grove in the cap where they mount , less the thickness of the pan gasket on each end, because the seal rests on the rear tabs of the pan gasket . I always apply a touch of rtv where the seal will rest on the gasket on ech side of the main cap.

Re: Wrong gasket??
 

Don't they come extra long so they can also fit the B engine main cap? I've had to cut most of the ones I've installed.

Re: Wrong gasket??
 

Thx, that may be it. The gasket I bought measures 3/8 wide. I'll look on Snyder's to see if they sell the narrower one. If that's not the fix then then out comes the hammer.

Re: Wrong gasket??
 

I agree with you. It was way too long. Had to cut about 3/8 off the end.

Re: Wrong gasket??
 

If you will pull on the seal lightly as you put it in the groove and twist it side to side it will go in quite easily. Once in you can push it down tight with your thumb. All the ones I get from the major suppliers have to be cut. I have never seen one that did not need to be cut right out of the package.

Re: Wrong gasket??
 

I feel that most people that have model A's that do their own repairs deal with the model A parts houses (catalog guys). I don't think that the catalog guys make these gaskets. Different gasket companies make them and the catalog guys offer them for people that have model A's. I've got to agree with James Rogers, in fifty two years of working on my model A's, I've never seen a rear oil pan seal that didn't have to be trimed for proper length. Its mostly common sense, if a person is trying to get their engine back together and the seal is too long they trim it or find another . If it is just a tight fit, they use it as is.

I looked in my Snyders catalog and didn't find seperate rear pan seals sold seperatly. Bratton has the pan seals listed. Part number 9790 for the 28-29 13/32 wide seal, price fifty five cents. The 30-31 3/8 wide pan seal part number is 9800 . Phone 800-255- 1929 toll free order number. They are pretty quick with shipping and their free catalog has more and better info than most of the how to books and its all for free. Bratton states that the seal is about 1/2 inch too long and will need to be trimmed. Good luck.

Re: Wrong gasket??
 

The forged 28-29 bearing cap groove that the rear pan seal fits in has a different width than the groove in the cast 30-31 bearing cap. one measuerment doesn't work for both style caps. I think that the Felpro gasket sets have both size rear seals. Some pan gasket sets don't . Bratton has both size rear pan seals listed separately for fifty five cents each. They have to be trimmed for length. The last time I bought six of each. Its easy to cut one wrong.