There is quite a write up on the main crank seal on the Go Westy site.
The seals they sell are thicker than other available seals (12mm IIRC) and
are the same ones the dealers sell apparently.  I could actually see where
the VW logo was ground off the seal on mine.  Last year I asked Boston Bob
about the proper way to install the thicker seal. He said just tap it in
until it bottoms out.

Pascal
'84Westy

On Thu, 19 Mar 2009 05:45:19 -0300, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote:

> Ok - 88 GL Manual Tranny is sitting on the shop floor on a dolly.
> Flywheel removed, old oil seal removed, old pilot bearing removed, seat
> for both cleaned up. Flywheel clutch disc contact face cleaned and
> scuffed, new flywheel "O" ring installed, new pilot bearing greased and
> installed, New oil seal put in place and tapped down per Bob Donalds and
> bottomed out.
>
> But WTF! The new seal won't recess the 1/16 below the surface of the
> case as Bob  specifies! It only recesses 1/32 of an inch. Hmmm~wrong
> seal perhaps?  A quick call to Ken Wilford, my supplier for the seal.
> raised an interesting queston. How did the seal supplied copair with
> others of other brand names. Well, as it turns out the two after market
> seals he sell and the genuine Volkswagen OEM seals he handles are all
> the same thickness. So no discrepancy there.
>
> This raises a question. I understand fully why Bob insisted the seal be
> recessed - to avoid ripping the thing out at some point and having to do
> it all over again. So with this apparent difference between how the
> seals are made vs how Bob says the need to be installed - it appears
> there is something missing.if the information on how to get this done
> best.