I installed the rear seal retainer in my new 292 Y Block today.  The instructions on the neoprene seal that came in the gasket kit said the nails go on the block side of the side seals. Ted's instructions say the nails should go on the retainer side. Which is correct?

ted.you can see the groove in them where the nails go.

The nails install to the retainer side or crankshaft side of side seals, not the block side.  The side seals I use have grooves on both sides so I can see where some confusion might come from.  If there are some instructions out there stating that the nails go to the block side of the seal, that might explain why there are so many problems with ‘rear main seal’ leaks.
 
Here are the instructions that come with the ‘Best Gasket’ side seals.
 

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Ted -I seem to recall You made a slight change to your Instructions regarding rear Main Seal Installations. Instead of  completely tightening the Seal Retainer and then installing the Side Seals with the Sealant being pushed into place did You not say to leave the Seal Retainer slightly loose so that Sealant also gets into the slight Space under the Retainer? Let it setup for a few Minutes and then Torque the Retainer? Somewhere I recall reading this. I did it this way last Time I replaced the Rear Main Seal on mine.

  

Mark.
My instructions do vary slightly from the instructions provided with the seals.  I prefer that the seal retainer lack about an 1/8” from being seated when I install the side seals.  This allows the RTV to fully fill the void at the retainer to block parting line while also allowing some movement of the retainer when installing the side seals.  Using a small bladed screw driver at the side of the retainer that’s getting the seal, the retainer can be pushed away from the block edge thus allowing the side seal to slide easier in its slot.  I do this for both sides.  Once the side seals are within 3/8” of being flush with the pan rails, I install the nails on the retainer side of the seal and tap the nails in place while at the same time the side seals become flush with the retainer.  I then fully tighten the rear seal retainer bolts and tap the side seals and nails once more so they are flush.  If everything works out as it should, I expect a small amount of RTV to protrude from the retainer to block parting line.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Great.  I installed my seals according to Ted's instructions.   My seals had grooves on both sides.  The instructions on the seal package and the assembly guide have it the other way.  I did it right!! 

Doesn't exactly inspire Confidence in a Product when they include Instructions that are wrong for the Product they sell does it?

  

Not really.  Good thing I wasn't buying condoms...   

I left the side seals out and filled cavities with RTV....no leaks after 1800 or so miles. Also used a trimmed 318 Mo-Par seal on the same 312. No probmento!


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I have an old set of side seals with the hole in the center for the steel pin, I think they came out of an old Detroit gasket set, never tried them.. Anyone ever seen or used them?