VN Rear Main Seal repair

[boojak87]

How are yas all doing. I just have a quick query about a 1990 VN Exec. i found for sale up the road. It's equipped with a standard V6, sports muffler and rims. It's clocked up near 280,000kms and is a mere $1500 (o.n.o). I phoned the owner straight away and asked if there were any problems that she knew of, and she came back saying that she has had it serviced regularly and the only 'con' that she can think of is the oil leak from the Rear Main Seal. I know they're a bit of a bitch for mechanics to replace and usually end up costing a fortune (from experience with a VS). I haven't done any research on it yet, so i thought i'd come on and ask the kind folk of JustCommodores forum for some help. If anyone would know, how much it would cost to repair a rear main seal? Is it still worth me purchasing the car?

Thanx,
Nathan

[Darren]

I guess when it boils down to it, it really depends on how bad it is.

I am meant to have the standard Holden main seal leak which I do whilst using a thinner oil but something like GTX 2 or Penrite HPR15 which I've currently got in the car seems to be doing a great job so far as I am yet to notice a single drop of oil.

On the cost front I can't be much help as I've never had one done.

[VTSSDUDE]

To replace the rear main seal, it's an engine pull out job so I can imagine 4 hours least for engine removal then probably no more then two hours to replace seal (probably an hour) then same amount of time to re-install the engine.
So I say around 8-9 hours. If a mechanic charges $80 an hour, that's about $720 without parts. The seal wouldn't cost much.
Unless you can do it yourself or know a mate that can.
How good condition is the car in?
I think for a VN least two hours to pull engine out, so if we cut off 4 hours still around $500 mark.

Cheers,
Jim

[The1985divo]

Mine has that problem but its not major...160 for the seal but they wouldnt tell me the price for labor ^o) i said not to fix it and he said just to keep topping it up wit oil, but if it is major then it will be a problem

[boojak87]

Yeee thanx guys. The car is in great condition actually! No rust what so ever, interior is very clean, apart from the tiniest hole in the driver side seat (which will be covered up by seat covers anyway). It is at the moment $1500o.n.o with reg til April next year, the only thing i was weary about was that the car had no RWC supplied, so i wouldn't know what is actually wrong with it to pass the road worthy. But ye, i'm still tossing up whether to get it or not.

Thanx,
Nathan