56 Olds 324cui crankshaft rear oil seal??

My 56 Olds 324cui leaks at the end of the crankshaft.
As far as I can read in the shop manual there used to be a graphite greased rope seal put in by the factory.
Replacing this seal means to take the engine out of the car, to take the crankshaft out and to hammer the seal into the grove.

Is there any solution that we do not need to take the crankshaft out??? My 60 Corvette already had a 2 piece Neoprene seal that could be pushed in with the crankshaft installed.
Do you know about a seal that could replace the old rope and that we could push in without taking the crankshaft out?

Thanks so much for your help!
The German

 

Yes there is a seal like that for Olds. I know I saw one on ebay, but I'd bet Goatroper02 has them in stock. PM him

By the way, a new rope seal can be installed in the car, without removing the crank.

 

I replaced mine in my 55 without engine removal. It can be done, though it's not a fun job.
Pull the oil pan, loosen all the main caps, don't remove them, except for the rear cap, which contans the seal! Carefully pry the crank down, just a fraction of an inch.
There is a tool set available for replacing the rope seal. Get it!
First thread in the tool with the sheet metal screw type end. Pull out the seal. Pull out the cork squares on either side, as well.
No, putting in the new seal...take the "chinese fingers" tool, the one that has a net-like end on it, and insert the top half of the new seal into it. As you pull the ifngers tighten around the seal, so you can pull it up and around the crank and not lose it. When you get is so both sides have excess seal showing, push on the fingers tool, and it well loosen up to remove it. Use the right angle blade in the tool kit to cut the seals flush with the block. Install the other half of the seal in the rear main cap. Use a piece of pipe the push it down tight into the car. Cut seal flush with the ends of the cap.
Use some adhesive to seal the ends of the rope seal, insatll \new cork squares, and install the cap. torque all main caps to specification.

 

That's the way we used to do it, actually it hasn't been that long ago. I replaced one in a caddy a couple of years back.

Goatroper2 has modenr seals for them as I recall but that does involve pulling the engine and dropping the crank. It would be a one time thing and sometimes replacing the rope seal with the engine in the ch***is doesn't work.

 

Some rope seal manufacturers want you to soak the new seal in motor oil before installing it. A whole day is good, a week is better.

 

Best Gasket sells the improved seal but as said the crank needs to come out.

 

I cannot believe that the Best Gasket rubber seal needs to be installed with the crank out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why can t it just be pushed in around the crankshaft?
There is a steel rope in there, isn t it?
Chopols, do you really think that the rope can be changed with the crankshaft in there?
I googled the Chinese Fingers tool, nothing that made sense came up.
The rope normally is pressed in with a round tool that is hammering the rope into the groove, how is that to happen, if the crankshaft is in the way?
Best Gasket also makes a new qualtiy of ropes too.
This sounds like a 3000 to 4000 Euro repair for an oil seal that costs USD 20 or so!
What a desaster....