Hi John, I used a distributor seal/ring kit that Rick sells at Import Part Specialists (http://www.importpartsspec.com/shop) for just a few dollars (I think it was only $3 or so). It had 2 o-rings (the smaller one for the shaft and the larger one for the housing) as well as the shaft seal (looks like a metal ring with a little coiled spring goinS around the inside). From memory, I believe both of the rings were black. I used a special tool that Dick has for holding the distributor while you knock out the holding pin on the shaft, allowing you to back the shaft out of the mounting plate. We then pried back some of the little metal flanges that hold the metal plate over the seal, and removed the old seal. I then pushed the new seal in (though I seem to remember "pushing" involving the gentle use of a hammer!), and reassembled the whole lot, using some vaseline on the rings. Oh yeah, I have to say, those little fibrous paper washers are a real pain! Broke 2 of them just handling them, and ended up using 2 off of a spare distributor (not yet rebuilt) that was laying around in the workshop.

Things seemed fine for a few weeks, but then I noticed oil on the garage floor, and checked it out again. It is possible I suppose that the leak did indeed start right away, but just took a couple weeks till I noticed.

Do you think the seal, the o-rings, or even those little fibrous paper washers are the most likely suspect? I suppose its also possible (as Chris mentions in one of the other posts in this thread) that this shaft is just worn enough that it is leaking even with a good set of rings and a new seal?

Thanks!
Gordon
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Two '98-S70s and One '90-745. My First Car: '74 244DL Gone But Remembered!