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Hi all,
I am rebuilding steering gear on my 50 Custom and ran into this problem - I am unable to find any replacement for the lower steering shaft oil seal.
This seal is pressed into the lower steering gear cover plate.
My 1950 parts book shows seal part# 1142 052 and 1954 book shows part# 1326 908 (cover and seal assembly).
So far none of the parts sources I've checked have either one in stock.
Is there any other way to rebuild/recondition/replace my original seal without getting an NOS part or are there any known replacements for this part?
Thank you,
- Igor.
I would take the old seal to my parts store and would buy a new one based on the dimensions of the old.
Checking on partsvoice.com, Silkes Auto Parts in Jacksonville, Florida lists having 4 of the first part number.
Silke's Auto Parts Inc
6110 Powers Ave Ste 8
Jacksonville, FL 32217
904-737-8600
It's supposed to be fun!
1949 De Soto Custom Convertible (project)
Tim,
Thank you for the advise - I've got new seal from Silke's.
My other problem now - I have no clue how to remove the old one and press new one into the cover plate...
- Igor.
If I did this right, it should be an image of a seal puller.
Well, once you click on the tinyurl, you'll have to click "proceed to site"
If you have a MIG welder, you could run a weld bead around the face of the seal, and when it's cooled, it will probably drop right out due to it's shrinkage.
It's supposed to be fun!
1949 De Soto Custom Convertible (project)
Can't the seal just be pressed out? For lack of a press, I have removed similar seals with an impact socket close to the OD of the seal and then tap the socket or hit it with a hammer to force the seal out.
Paul, you're probably right.... looking again at the breakdown, it appears the seal isn't in a blind hole like I first assumed.
It's supposed to be fun!
1949 De Soto Custom Convertible (project)
The assembly is not even rusted - it should come out easily. Pay attention to the lips on the seal - you want the new seal to have them on the proper side of the cover. The installation of the new one must be done carefully. A press is on my list of tools. I have needed one many times, but I can improvise or bring the assembly to someone with a press.
Look at it carefully Igor - you will figure it out.
Tim and Paul - Thanks guys for your input!
I "carved" out the old seal with a dremel and set a new one on JB Weld epoxy.
I know this is probably not the best solution but seems to be working and it was much faster. My restoration progresses really slow as is - I can work on my car only on weekends, usually no more than 3-4 days a month. I wish I had a press or time to find a shop with proper equipment.
- Igor.
Igor, the seal should have gone in with a slight press fit. It should not be loose and held in with JB Weld. If used as a little insurance - fine.
The shaft should rotate with very little friction in the seal. With this in mind, there should not be a need to swedge the seal in. A good press fit (and if a good press fit and jbweld is not any good), a blue or green loctite should work well. I do not think Loctite showed up until the 60's or maybe even the 70's. I am just posting a different approach to solving the lack of readily available parts.
Well, I wasn't been able to locate new plate/seal assembly so I went ahead with my not so good JB Weld approach (it's already been glued anyway). There is nothing pressing on the seal itself so I believe this should work.
As an extra insurance I've made another plate (identical to the one with seal, only thinner and with a smaller hole) and put it on top of the original plate with a thin round gasket between the two. So now the seal is sandwiched between two plates with nowhere to go and the only purpose of JB Weld now is to stop oil from seeping between the seal housing and the plate.
Actually, the whole idea of having leather oil seal on the bottom of the gear housing seems to be less than brilliant to me. I wonder if the "grease tube" design was any better? And all this just to let one wire out...
James, next time I see your Suburban in SF I'll stop by to introduce myself 
