I've got the gasket (the half circle gasket) and the seal is in the housing. But I noticed as I was screwing the bolts into the block (not torqued yet) that I could see a lot of daylight through there. I have the engine on the stand doing this, so I was looking straight down and could see a lot of light.

Obviously, I don't want an oil leak coming straight out into my clutch......how to I make certain that this thing isn't going to leak? Should I put a thin layer of RTV on the gasket that mates the seal housing to the block? Should I RTV the hell out of the joint where it meets the oil pan and block? (I was planning on doing that anyway) My main concern is the area where the housing gasket is.

 

Anyone?

 

According to my Haynes manual, NO RTV is to be used on the rear main seal or the "Half Circle" gasket for the housing.

Funny you should bring up this subject, though. I'll be installing my rear main as soon as I find or get an answer to my camshaft endplay question.

~John