Hi everyone, I just purchased a 55 ford fairlane town sedan with a 272 and a 3 speed overdrive. The car is in good condition has about 88000 miles on it and I did drive it about 8 miles or so before I bought it. Currently my shop is in deer hunting mode and I dont have the space to get the car on my lift so I am not driving it untill I check the trans and rear end fluid levels, my memory isnt the best anymore and I am pretty sure I spoke with Mr. Eaton yesterday to be able to register  and I really appreciate the conversation with him it really helped me to format a game plan for the car. The car is leaking oil from the rear of the engine and I am pretty sure the rear main is toast and I have a gasket kit on the way and I am pretty sure it has a neopreme rear main seal " any tips on this replacement is appreciated". It also has the original oil filter and I would like to upgrade to the spin on filter, If anyone has any advice on where to get the adapter kit would be appreciated I have seen some on the net but thought Id ask you folks. I also would like to confirm that for the trans and overdrive you use 75w90 conventional gear oil and I was planning on using rotella 15w40 with about a half quart of lucas. Ive been a gear head since my youth but it has been a scruby
 experience and this is my first experience with an older ford. Thanks for reading this long post and I am looking forward to chatting with everyone. Rickey

Welcome to the forum! The rear main seal can actually be replaced with the engine in the car assuming the seal surface on the crank is good. You'll need to get the drag link out of the way so you can drop the pan, then unbolt the main bearing caps so you can drop the crank down far enough to access the seal. I have done this myself, not fun but better than pulling the engine just for a seal. For the spin on filter adapter, look for an original Ford aluminum adapter, the aftermarket ones are rather flimsy (but still useable if you're careful). Your trans wants straight mineral oil. Do not use anything marked "hypoid", "transaxle", or "universal" as they contain additives that will eventually destroy the brass synchros. Tractor Supply carries the correct oil under the brand name Traveler Ford Tractor Transmission Oil. NAPA is also a good source but they may have to order it. Your trans has 2 filler plugs, one for the main box and the other is for the OD section. When filling/refilling fill the main box 1st, then top up the OD. Since you don't know what's in there now it would be wise to drain it and refill it with the right stuff.

The Ford Adapter will be steel.  The aluminum are aftermarket and haven't been available for a while.  The aluminum one is probably best but not necessarily worth holding out for, if they are even available again.

The most obvious problem with some of the aftermarket steel adapters is that they have "TOP" stamped in the wrong place.  The holes or slot goes to the top so put the holes to the top and ignore "TOP" on the adapter if it does not place the holes at the top.

Here's a guide for rear main installation:

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



Lawrenceville, GA

Reguarding the rear main leaking.....If there is oil on the left side of the engine it is not the rear main leaking , it is the road draft breather.. I have owned 7 , 55/56 ford cars some with well over a 100,000 miles on them and althought I was told that some of them had a leaking rear main non leaked more than a haft a quart of oil in a 1000 miles after I took the road draft breather off and cleaned it.

If my blog can be a help to you then please visit HotRodReverend.com/blog and sift through countless entries that include videos, pictures, and diagrams. It has become a huge repository. I have a 55 Ford Club Sedan with the 3 speed and overdrive.

dan

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Welcome. Your engine maybe too worn out but a PCV system brought my rear main seal leak to negligible. My side breather never even dripped. I would get a Ford factory manual too they really help. 

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

Thanks everyone I really appreciate the support and advice. My curiosity got the best of me and I got the car on the lift and the ol car is in pretty good shape from a rust standpoint not much at all. I didnt take the dust cover off so I could see the rear of the engine so my mechanic friend could see whats going on without me disturbing anything, but its been leaking a while from what I could tell, and the oil is mainly in the center of the car. I plan on going real slow with the leak issue and I am not going to do anything till after deer season. I did find the fills for the trans and od  I found the drain for the trans but I couldnt find a drain for the od. I didnt take anything off and I am a blind squirell looking for a nut in the tree when it comes to this car but I really like the ol car and I am looking forward to get to know it. I am getting a service manual and I believe there is a manual for the motor also. Thanks again I really   appreciate your advice. I will also be visiting your site Daniel J.
 

Rotella-T 15W40 does not require additional Zinc added to it. Has the recommended amount from the manufacturer.

  

There is no separate drain for the OD since there's an internal passage between the OD and the main box. When you drain the main box you also drain the OD. You need to top up the OD after filling the main box because the OD is higher up and can run dry if not topped up. This is why the OD has its own fill plug.