Long shot trans seal question
 

So I am about to mate a MSM 6-speed transmission to my motor and install it in the car. I wanted to do this over the weekend, but I hit a snag. There is some evidence that the input shaft seal (front) could be leaking a bit. So I do not want to take a chance on getting the whole thing in the car and having a problem. I want to replace it beforehand.

Problem is, no one has one locally. I tried the dealer, AutoZone, Advanced, OReilly, and NAPA. Most of them do not even have a number for it in their system. RLogan, by some Miata miracle, had an input shaft seal in his garage, and I picked it up from him this afternoon. Problem is, when I got it home, it is a lot smaller than the 6-speed seal. Rosenthal shows two different part numbers for the 5 and 6 speed input shaft seals so the one he had must be for a 5-speed. So, though it was a valiant effort, it did not work out.

So of course I can order one and wait a week, which I do not want to do. So I am wondering if by some small miracle that someone knows of a seal from another application that would do the job, and one the auto parts stores would carry so I can get it tomorrow (Sunday). It is a long shot I know, so I am not holding my breath.

I suppose I could pull the seal, measure it and/or take it to the parts store and go through all the seals looking for a match. But even with a sympathetic counter guy that could be a real PIA. I think I would rather wait.

I hate this crap. I get all motivated to finally get the engine back in the street car (been spending all my pare time working on the LS1 track car) and get stopped by a stupid $10 part :vash:

I think I need to go have a beer, chill, wake up tomorrow, and find something else to do other than installing the motor. There is that Momo seat I still need to install...

Try doing some searching over at Rockauto.com. I just looked at input seals for manual trans Miatas (Yr 2000) and it pulled it multiple part listings; each of which had dimensions listed. If you've pulled your 6 speed input seal, you can measure it and try and find a cross listed application that is the same size. Good luck!

You may want to go to an industrial parts supplier. I used to do business with Kaman Industries, but I am not sure if they are still in that business. Another place here in Florida, is Miller Bearing. I am not sure if Miller is nationwide, but you get the idea.

They inventory parts by dimensions, and not by what application it is used for. The funny thing is, the input shaft seal of a Miata transmission, maybe the same seal used on another automotive application, tractor, train, or some obscure manufacturing equipment. They will not even ask what equipment it is used for, unless it is specific for the performance of the part, like speed, heat, or abrasion.

Obviously, make sure you have the old seal so they can match it.

Yep I agree that could work. Maybe I'll check the local seal suppliers on Monday. We have all the usual industrial suppliers here. We may not have a Miller, but we have Purvis Bearing, Grainger, and some others. There is nothing magical about a shaft seal. It is sized to fit in a bore with slight interference, accommodate a certain shaft size (usually a small range), and be compatible with the fluid/lubricant/gas/whatever it is holding in.

I was also thinking the same thing about the Miata sharing the same front trans seal as another car, but it has just not been cross referenced as such. I'll bet I could find something at the auto parts store but I've got other stuff to do :)

Thanks all.

Ordered one from the dealer. It will be here Thursday. Working on the Momo installation in the mean time :)