280ZSS

Ran the car today, 76 280Z, and there is quite an oil leak by the engine/tranny connection. I believe it is the rear main seal. The Chiltons book says to pull the motor, etc.. But I was wondering is it possible to just pull the tranny down, and oil pan, and do the seal from under the car? Pull the bearing cap, and so on???
I was really excited to get this car but this is a pretty major oil leak...
Thanks
Also is there a puller I can rent or do I HAVE to use the special tool they list in the manual??
Or is it possible to JUST pull the oil pan and bearing with the trans connected??
Thanks

NismoPick

#1... Cut out the pictures & throw that Chilton's manual in the garbage.

#2... Buy a Haynes manual.

#3... You have to remove the rear main bearing cap to get to the rear main seal. You CAN do that by just removing the tranny, but it's a hellish job. It's much easier with the motor upside down on a stand.

280ZSS

Thanks Nismopick, you are very helpful.
Is there a special puller I need (like they say) or will a generic puller work?
Still considering just pullin the tranny... i dont have a lift/chain/cherry picker or engine stand but i can get a tranny jack....

What if i just drive it and add a lot of oil everyday? Will this leak cause low oil pressure (i think it would....)
ill be lookin for a haynes manual.
Thanks again.

theramz

Do it right. Buy a stand from harbor freight and rent a cherry picker. Nothing is worse than finding out you muffed the gasket and still have an oil leak. You probably need a new clutch and bearing so plan the whole thing out, maybe even freeze plugs. Take your time on the removal and mark everthing so you won't have trouble later. Download the factory service manual from carfich.com and look it over first. Pull it out one weekend, inspect, clean, paint it. Put it all back in the next weekend.

280ZSS

carfich.com? You must have meant a different site. OK I get it, I pretty much have to pull the motor but we have NO GARAGE so water/condensation is an issue, can't leave her outside all week exposed. This car also needs brake work, so I can't spend too much time on one item. (its no show car...yet)
Its an auto trans; oh is the puller special or is a generic OK?
Thanks again gentlemen, I really do appreciate your help as I really want this car, ever since I seen it I thought it was just about the coolest car ever, especially for the price and my situation right now.
I need to make her reliable for now, power doesn't matter much, as I am more into cosmetic repair/appearance right now (and I find it easier to do).

NismoPick

yeah, he meant www.carfiche.com

but it's not always available. You can get all year service manuals here: http://www.xenons30.com/reference.html

And you don't need a puller to get the main cap off... use a rubber mallet. You should also wrap the block in a plastic garbage bag when you're not working on it, not only to keep water out, but all kinds of contaminates.

Bleach

You can drop the transmission with two people holding it. Give yourself lots of room under the car. Have it up on some nice solid jack stands.
The non turbo 5-speed weighs about 90 pounds (drain the oil first)

I was thinking that I had replaced the rear main seal without pulling any caps.... but its been a long time since I did that to an L-series