Oil leaking from gearbox output shaft

[mark-tda4s]

Hi,

I am in the process of a chassis restoration and when lifting the engine/gearbox from the chassis I had about 2-3 pints of gearbox oil leaked out of the output shaft where the prop sits. Is this normal or have I knackered the oil seal?

[ProjectChimaera]

Presume prop was out? If so normal.

I popped a rubber glove over the end and cable tied it, less mess!

[mark-tda4s]

Picture during the lift! Im a little pissed off as I was expecting the outriggers to be knackered but there are no holes and just flaked pitted metal. The car has done about 33000 miles and guess its been garaged and summer use only. I think I will change the outriggers and have the chassis blasted and powder coated regardless as I have done the hard part and dont want to do it all again in a few years.

[caduceus]

When doing a resto/body off, is it best to change the output shaft seal as a matter of course?
I assume they are just tapped in, dry, like the crank shaft oil seal...?

[Discopotatoes]

caduceus said:

When doing a resto/body off, is it best to change the output shaft seal as a matter of course?
I assume they are just tapped in, dry, like the crank shaft oil seal...?

If it's not leaking I wouldn't bother, it's easy enough to get to if it leaks later

[latham91]

Would love to see more pics of your lifting set up - did you need help or have you managed it by yourself?. How have you found the process so far? Any particular problems encountered?

Have this to do on mine in the next year or two and planning is underway.... sorry for all the questions.

By the way, I think the gearbox oil leak is normal - had a similar spillage when I removed my gearbox during the clutch change I did last year...

[phillpot]

latham91 said:

By the way, I think the gearbox oil leak is normal -

Very normal, the seal seals onto the propshaft!

[s p a c e m a n]

One of those thinhs where you should only be worried if you didn't make a puddle

[mark-tda4s]

latham91 said:

Would love to see more pics of your lifting set up - did you need help or have you managed it by yourself?. How have you found the process so far? Any particular problems encountered?

Have this to do on mine in the next year or two and planning is underway.... sorry for all the questions.

By the way, I think the gearbox oil leak is normal - had a similar spillage when I removed my gearbox during the clutch change I did last year...

I have managed to do everything other than lift the bonnet off myself, I am quite lucky in the fact I have a large garage with a large girder in the roof for lifting.

I have found the process relatively easy and the internet guides are absolutely brilliant, Just take your time and make sure everything is labelled up and take 100s of pictures. I have not come across many obstacles other than a few seized bolts that I had to shear off but as I will be replacing the outriggers and chassis bolts it wasnt a problem.

I am now at the point of almost finishing the chassis strip down and ready to order the outriggers and new bushes, pipes, discs,ball joints and everything else rubber! Once the outriggers are welded on (I might get a welder friend to do the welding) it will be off to the blasters and powder coaters and then its the rebuild.

I guess that to get the body off and strip the chassis its taken around 25 to 30 hours of work. I will keep you posted on the rebuild.

[latham91]

Thanks for the update. Your garage looks similar to mine with a steel beam in the roof so planning a similar block and tackle set up provided I can get enough headroom. Good to hear it's not been too challenging give or take a few stubborn bolts.
I'm kind of looking forward to the project but the down side is not having a toy to play with for quite some period of time... need to keep on saving the pennies and pounds ready for all the expenditure.