Transmission Seal Installation Question.

I believe that we can get the old/used seal out of the transmission case, but the possible problem is that there might not be enough room to install a new shifter shaft seal (with the headers in the way). Because we would have to use a seal installer tool (or a hammer and socket tool) to install the new shifter shaft seal back into the transmission case. I have included pictures above and below to show what i am talking about. Another problem is that the car is parked about 100 miles from here, so we cannot take a better look right now to see how much room that there is to install the new seal. But maybe there is a member who has a 1972 through 1976 Torino or montego, or a 1972 through 1979 ranchero, or 1977 through 1979 cougar, LTD II or thunderbird, or 1974 through 1976 cougar or elite, with a 429 or 460 engine and a C6 transmission with hooker 6126 headers installed, that can take a look at theirs and tell me.

Edited by dave302 - 06-June-2014 at 12:17PM

Pete, I believe you are correct.
The seal is in the transmission and then the shaft goes in.

Thank You for the answers, i appreciate it. I could not find any pictures of a 1972 through 1976 ford intermediate (Torino or ranchero) car with a 429/460 engine with a C6 transmission and hooker 6126 headers installed. But i have included a couple of pictures below of a 1978 Lincoln mark 5 with a 460 engine and hooker 6126 headers installed (which is the same exact engine/transmission/ exhaust header combination). As you can see it is a tight fit between the headers and transmission seal location.

Edited by dave302 - 06-June-2014 at 2:13PM

     IF...   you have room to slide the shaft out, then the bolt thing should work for you. you may have to unbolt that header to move it enough for room to work

I'll put my two cents in here.

I was going to do this very task myself several months back. I procured the parts (ebay, RockAuto & aquartlow) and then dropped the transmission pan.

I am not a great mechanic. I don't claim to have magical superpowers that will allow me to get things into tight places, etc. The nut that holds the shift shaft into the transmission is right next to the valve body and is tough to get to. I did not say impossible - I suspect some of our more seasoned mechanics here could do it, but not do-able for me.

On a brand new transmission I was not inclined to drop the valve body and start tearing other things out. Further, as Dave302 mentions, getting the seal out and in would be challenging. Again, not impossible, as californiajohnny has already made a valid suggestion to, but very challenging. Again, speaking from my own personal level of skill I would not attempt it.

Just for a bit of background of why I was at this juncture, my transmission came with a generic shift shaft out of it, hence I desired to put the mid-size specific shaft with column-cable shift arm on.

What I ended up doing was getting the B&M arm for the generic shaft, along with a Lokar kick down kit. Those two items fit on the generic output shaft without me needing to replace the shaft. Just that activity was a pain with the 6126's installed. Not impossible, and obviously within my skill level since it is done, but not easy either.

If you need to replace the seal because it is leaking, then I would certainly try installing it with everything in place. However, I would also be prepared for the possible need to pull the engine up to get the header out, or some other large scale action that will buy you the space you need. Heck, you could even take the transmission out as another alternative.

Hope that helps. Bottom line: 6126's make this a miserable job. But stock exhaust might even get in the way on this one.

Off topic note, the vehicle pictured has the heavy duty support cross arms.

Thank You for all of the answers, we appreciate it.

I would have to say, "If it ain't leaking, leave it alone". I used a regular O-ring to solve my leak, it has been about 18 months, no leak since installing it. I hope and/or believe your results will be similar. Good luck, Todd

Dave302,