Thank you much everyone, I got a new seal and per Tranzman I stopped into a local mom & pop transmission garage and of course they had a whole stack of those 5 hole gaskets on hand, $2.50.

Now I just need to put the new seal in and re-install the transfer case. I've been delayed because the crankshaft position sensor went out in my girlfriend's volkswagen... gotta tackle that first and get her back on the road. Then I can get back to my own stuff, assuming I don't die under her car (all my jackstands are under my blazer... I'll have to use the car's scissor jack in combination with my floor jack for any semblance of safety =/ )

 

Progress is pretty slow around here. I fired up a heater in the garage on Sunday and removed the old seal, was a double lipped one. I only had a single lipped seal on hand, they told me at the parts store that the double lipped ones can be trouble and it was way cheaper for a single lipped seal.

I put the single lipped seal in. Then I sat around for a long time trying to figure out if I had put it in backwards or not... after googling a bunch it seemed like everyone had their seals facing the opposite direction of mine. I wondered if it really mattered which way it went, it has to seal fluid on both sides doesn't it so would it matter which way I put it? This racked my brain for some time. Finally, I ran over to the store and grabbed yet another single lipped seal. I noticed there was plenty of room so I drove the second seal in next to the first one, facing the opposite way.

I thought that would be foolproof, no way it can leak now right? I heaved the stupid thing back into place and bolted it back up to the transmission, and reinstalled the crossmember. Then I was tired and I left it alone still need to hook up the driveshafts and refill it.

Sitting inside the house, I am second guessing myself for the second time. True, two seals mirroring eachother sounded good and they both fit and seemed ok... but now I'm wondering if I should have flipped my seals. I installed them with the lips facing eachother. Perhaps they should have both been lips facing out? Perhaps it was foolish to stick two seals together in the first place? Also, I totally did not pre-lubricate those before installing the transfer case.

So now... could use some input... is this going to be ok? Should I finish putting it back together and just see what happens? Assuming the worst that can happen is both seals fail quickly and I have to redo this whole job =/

 

I've never had trouble with the double lipped seal - I think the parts guy was feeding you a line - could be he didn't have the right one in stock - Also two seals might work but I think the lips need to be facing in towards the oil IMO if you have the lips facing each other they will fail

 

Im thinking the same thing odat. Its too cold to work in my garage, it will be all I can do to get the driveshafts on and pump some ATF into the transfer case. At that point, though, it will be mobile enough to make the 6 mile journey over to my old man's heated garage. He is re-assembling a tractor in his garage currently but that will be out soon.

At that time, I can buzz over there in the blazer and between the two of us we can probably slide the transfer case back and support it with something, weasel that plate holding the seals out of there, flip the seals around assuming 6 dry miles didn't wreck them, and re-assemble. Alternatively, I could just put in the double lipped seal at that time and that might be the smarter move. The whole 'jammin two seals in there together' thing is still pretty hoaky.

Good grief. Its like this thing is never going to be on the road again.

 

Sorry, I have been busy and I picked up a virus on my computer. Computer is fixed now. The guy at the parts store doesn’t understand the need or function of the double lip seal required in this position. Let me explain… The TFC front seal is a double lip seal on purpose. The spring side of any seal is supposed to go toward the area it is sealing. In this spot you are trying to trap fluid from two areas. 1st on the transmission side. If you go back track this thread to the pictures on page 1 that BRYAN0010 posted (thank you Bryan) of the TFC & transmission. You will see the transmission has two stand outs below the output shaft. The one to the left has an orificed cup plug in it. This plug is in all cases regardless whether it is 2WD or 4WD. It is designed to lube the rear extension housing bushing on a 2WD. It squirts fluid directly at the 4WD TFC front seal. It can and does fill the TFC full of fluid if the seal is bad or not installed properly. Test the theory if you must fire up the motor and watch it squirt!!! (Can’t remember if I had to put it in gear or not) I did and made a hell of a mess, but I proved my point to the boss!!! (spell BOSS backwards that’s usually how they are) 2nd the TFC side needs to trap the fluid inside and not get into the trans and over fill it. The TFC has its own pump for lubricating it’s components. Hope the 411 helps.

 

Glad I was able to help Tranzman. My Blazer is still running good. I damaged the cat though when I was driving some broken bolts off of it. It's not a high priority for me now. I've got some other projects to work on. Have a good one.

 

Thanks tranzman that makes sense, and glad your blazer is working good Bryan.

I finished putting everything back together because this project has been taking up space for too long and the garage is unheated so I have a hard time keeping my fingers nimble out there to do much. Desperately want to park my daily driver car in there. So the seals are still in there and still facing the wrong way. I backed it out had to add a surprising amount of fluid back to the transmission. For the hell of it I did a two mile test drive never really got over 50 MPH but things seemed to be working.

So now it sits and it *can* drive but of course its just super questionable whether its smart to drive it when those seals are installed backwards. I wonder how many miles they would last like that (but I don't really want to find out). Dad is still assembling his tractor so no openings in his heated garage yet.

tranzman have you ever seen/heard of people putting two single lipped seals in back-to-back like I did (except flipped around so the lips face out instead of towards each other, of course)? It seems weird that the race is long enough two seals fit ok in there. Basically what I'm getting at is, when I do get it in the garage again, should I:
a) take those two single lipped seals out and put a double lipped seal in (most expensive option, they get like $36 for that double lipped seal)
b) buy two more single lipped seals, install them together lips facing out (at $13 each its cheaper than the double seal)
c) Just flip the seals I have around and re-use them, assuming 10 miles of driving didn't do any notable damage (free!)

I shouldn't screw around trying to save a couple bucks but I am on a tight budget. If I can get away for cheap I'm inclined to do so. If two seals fit back to back without issue (they seem to) and if the seals I have now are not really affected by being installed wrong for 10 miles... saving that $36 would be really nice. Then I could afford to put a dribble of gas in this thing when I'm done...

 

Holy Sh-- where are you getting seals from - if you have a Oriellys there check with them - single lip $6.49 - double lip $10.99 both national brand - if you don't have a Orielys there try Oriellys on line even after shiping might still be cheaper than what your paying

 

auto value, the only parts store for 16 miles and that next store is an auto value also. If I drive 50-75 miles I can go to an oriellys or advanced auto. Could probably have ordered them online cheap too but as you can tell I didn't try too hard. I wanted the seal(s) right away that day so I could put them in during my narrow window of free time.

One of my machinist friends thinks the seals will hold as is. He thinks a bit of fluid might push past the first seal but will stop there. Time will tell I guess. I'm going to roll it in the garage again tomorrow if I have time and check fluid levels and try to make my 4x4 actuator work again, or else toss it out and pull the cable get it locked into 4x4 and leave it that way for the rest of the winter. I never use 2 wheel drive unless its summer anyways.

 

Gone about 175 miles without any issues from the transmission or transfer case so far. Now the problem I'm facing is that my newly rebuilt starter, on occasion, refuses to work. All I get is a CLICK when I turn the key and nothing else. Totally rebuilt starter done by professionals, new solenoid and everything. Oh well. Other than that, it seems to be working. I am going to double check the fill on the transfer case soon.