Jay, I read this and your later post. I commend you for wanting to take care
of things while you have the chance, but I think you are chasing the wrong
things.

If the van is air-cooled and you do not have a leak at that seal, leave it
alone! On the air-cooled engines, it's no big deal to replace it while the
engine is in the Van. Water cooled is trickier due to the tight spaces. If
you are hell bent on doing it, get a 3 or 4 foot long piece of steel bar or
angle stock and drill 2 holes through it, properly spaced so that they line
up with 2 of the bolt holes in the flex-plate (since you have an automatic).
Bolt the bar to the flex-plate and rotate it so that the bar touches the
ground. This will prevent the crankshaft from turning while you tackle the
bolt that holds it on.

As for the oil pump gasket, leave it alone!

TomC
tcarrington@relitech.com
http://volksweb.relitech.com
85 Vanagon Crew Cab
82 Westy diesel=>gas conversion
65 Notchback

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jay & Kim Schmidt [SMTP:schmidt5@HSONLINE.NET]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 10:54 PM
> To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject:      How to untorque the pulley?
>
> I am looking at both Bentley and Haynes, but I need this list(I'm unable
> to
> get to the archives also).
> My engine is out and on the bench and as a matter of prudence I feel I
> should replace the rear main seal and maybe oil pump gaskets since I have
> new ones.
> The manuals are weak on the procedure. How do I untorque the pulley bolt?
> Really, how do I hold the pulley while me and six friends and a 10 foot
> cheater loosen that thing? (I exaggerate.)
> Do I need any special tools to replace the seal or just pry out the old,
> clean and put a new one back?
> Also, where do I buy the "sealing nuts" for the oil pump that bentley says
> is a required replacement item?
> Many thanks und happy Dankfest!
> Jay