I just read this thread.  I didn't see anyone reference the following articles referring to y-block rear seals.  Click on the links below for some helpful information.

http://www.eatonbalancing.com/blog/2009/06/28/warped-rear-seal-retainer-on-a-y/

http://www.eatonbalancing.com/blog/2008/09/10/neoprene-rear-seal-installation-for-the-y-and-others/

Hope this helps!  


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

its dripping pretty good, it could be the oil pump I've not yet started looking at it, been working on the brakes.

DGMFORD
1955 F100
1957 Ford Fairlane 500

How much is it leaking?

Best Gasket did not change the part number when their 312 seal material was revised from orange to black.  The 3A52 number is a good number for the revised seal.  If ordering the Best Gasket 312 seal from anywhere but Best Gasket, just insure that you are getting the ‘black’ seal as there may still be some ‘orange’ seals sitting on vendors shelves.  I’ve had good results with the revised ‘black’ seal.
 
Another option is the 312 neoprene seal sold by FordCraft located in Plano, TX.  I’ve also used this seal on the 312 engines with great success.  The Ford Craft phone number is 972-423-4636.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Probably eluding to oil leaks from the oil pump, oil filter area, and/or oil transfer tube from the pan to the oil pump.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Explain further?





54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Ted, Best Gasket's website currently shows a red brick colored "rubber" 312 y-block rear main seal, part number 3A52. Is this the good 312 y-block part number now?

Neoprene rear mean seals are readily available for the Ford 292 engines from a variety of different manufacturers.  These can be installed with the engine in the car.
 
If getting the neoprene type seal from a run of the mill parts store, the 292 seals are likely all that will be available.  The FelPro number for the 292 engines is BS 6141.  If going to a specialty parts store that deals primarily with Thunderbirds and older Fords, then rubberized 312 seals are also available and these are a slightly larger diameter than those for the 292.  As miker mentions, Best Gasket did make a orange seal for the 312’s for a short period of time and those do wear out very quickly.  Best Gasket has since changed out the material in the 312 seal to the same material used in the 292 seal which makes the two seals look almost identical but because of sizing differences, they are not interchangeable.  Best Gasket has tried to get all those orange seals back in their hands but there are still some out there; those seals were for the 312 engines only.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

All the above is good advice. One comment. I don't know if they were made for the 292, but Best Gasket made some "orange" seals for the 312. They are silicon, not neoprene. They fail in 500 or so miles. I just changed mine, motor in car, in my 312. Might be some NOS laying around, and might be some for 292's. Someone will know. If it comes to that, don't use one.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

good idea, I plan on going through it this weekend sometime. Thanks again.

DGMFORD
1955 F100
1957 Ford Fairlane 500