Replacing Rear Main

I got a bit of a problem. I need to replace the rear main seal on my 88' bird and I got a quote from a shop for roughly $800, and im not exactly rollin in the money. Anyone know how difficult this project is? Any tips, and what kind of special tools I may need?

You got to pull the tranny, take apart the clutch and pressure plate from the car. Take out the old rear main and install a new one. That's the short version. You are basically doing everything you would need to do to change a clutch. If there is any chance the car will need a new clutch in the foreseeable future, now might be the time to do it. If the rear main leaks enough to soak the clutch, you will need a new one anyhow.
There is a lot of past posts on clutch changing.

Originally posted by MN_TURBO_BIRD:
I got a bit of a problem. I need to replace the rear main seal on my 88' bird and I got a quote from a shop for roughly $800, and im not exactly rollin in the money. Anyone know how difficult this project is? Any tips, and what kind of special tools I may need?

If you are 1/2 good with swinging a wrench this isn't an insurmountable job. If you are real good with swinging a wrench you might not even bother doing the clutch if it looks clean.

But were I you and if I could afford it, I'd only go that way once. Price a new clutch kit (pressure plate, clutch plate, bearing and pilot bushing) get a price on turning the fly wheel, and do the whole thing while you are in there for the main seal. Since you are going to have the drive shaft down inspect the U-joints and the transmission rear main seal. Replace if they are bad.

Special tools? Torque wrench for sure. The clutch kit should come with an alignment tool.
Floor jacks, jack stands, and a large set of balls! : )

Well thats alot easier than i had thought. The clutch performs great but i will sure look into a new one. And i may as well do the U-joints anyway just in case. I have plans of building a garage next year, so i'll have to wait til then do get my hands dirty, but thanks for the help.