Oil leak

[JB4020]

i have a '71 f100 300 i6 with the ford 303. There is oil dripping from between the bellhousing and the transmission. Is this most likely the seal on the transmission input shaft? Is this hard to replace? Any help is appreciated.

[flyboy2610]

Is the fluid black or red?
If it's black it probaly the rear main crankshaft seal.
If it's red it could be the trany pump seal or you could have a cracked converter housing.

[JB4020]

I have a ford 303 manual transmission. The oil is golden clean oil. I did change the oil in the engine and the trans so they are both clean

[mytmatt]

Sounds like the rear main seal (crankshaft)

[JB4020]

how hard is the rear main seal to replace. I know the trans has to come off

[FORDification]

I think I'd try removing the cover at the lower front of the bellhousing and shining a light up in there, and see if I could determine whether the oil is from the tranny or engine. Changing an engine's rear main is a major PIA. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that it's not the problem.

[JB4020]

is this cover between the trans and the bell housing or the bell housing and the block? Im not sure were you mean im pretty new to these trucks. Is it fairly common for the 3 speed trans to leak?

[FORDification]

It'll be at the lower front of the bellhousing....directly beneath the flywheel.

[mytmatt]

It bolts to the front of the bellhousing, just below the block. Not sure about the I6 but on my 360 it fits into a recess in the plate that goes between the bellhousing and the block. It's what you would remove to drain the tranny fluid from your torque converter, or unbolt the torque converter from the flywheel.

[kid]

PS Any way you look at it you need to remove the tranny to change either seal. The front housing rarely cracks but can leak, one gasket and one seal. The Main Seal requires dropping the pan along with the rear main cap in order to replace it. Sometimes you might even have to loosen all the main caps to pull and change the seal but still remove the rear Main cap all the way.

Pull the Bellhousing bottom cover is the oul on the back (front side of truck) side or is it in the clutch are or the back (tranny face of the bell housing.