Its about time to get this car back on the road ,sure like to DIY this job ,no lift just ramps and cardboard ,is it a good idea or let a pro have a go.

You can rent a lift. Assuming that the rear seal is still rope you pretty well have to lift the engine out.. It boils down to what time you have in comparison to how deep your pockets are.

A good backyard mechanic might do it for you reasonably. At 100 an hour otherwise it can consume some time and real money. Technically it is not that hard.

If it's like the 602 and 603, you remove the tranny, flex plate and ring gear to expose the rear seal carrier. Remove the oil pan bolts that go into the seal carrier and the bolts holding the carrier to the block. Somehow remove the carrier without tearing the oil pan gasket, replace the seal and put it back together.

Sixto
87 300D

My bad, it's possible to replace the seal without removing the carrier - http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/outside/11832/Resources/201Create/PDF/60004.pdf section 327. It calls for a special installation tool but you should be able to press it in with whatever tools are available to you.

Sixto
87 300D

I did not know they had gone away from the rope seal. Actually what you face may be easier overall than dealing with the older type seal.

You have checked to make sure the oil is not coming from the rear of the head.

Actually this one is pretty easy once the transmission is out of the way. Use caution because if you are working off of jackstands you may not be able to get the transmisison out from underneath the car.

__________________
Jim

Make sure you get a Viton seal as a replacement. They are more expensive.
Conventional seals (black ones) dont take the temperature well & go hard. This causes them to leak in the winter.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

Thats very true about heat ,the engine got hot,around 210 hot. Alot of stop and go traffic that month when I firsted pulled it out on its maiden voyage ,started leaking shortly after ,nice thin running stream so I could fine my way home.
So the trannie drop has me concerned ,it isnt fun wrestling a 100 pound gorilla on your back ,Ill see if I can get some time on a lift next door ,if they agree it sounds like a straight forward job.Thanks to all.

You will need a long, long, 3/8" extension to get to the upper mounting fasteners for the tranny to the engine. I did some with the car on jackstands laying on my back in younger days. I won't do it that way anymore.

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Jim

Be sure to unbolt the torque converter before trying to slide out the tranny. Don't ask me how I know.

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You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need.