M70 rear main seal and cover gasket

[LappingLuke]

Guys, I have the clutch off my car to replace the pilot bearing and rear main seal "while I'm in there." I bought the paper gasket that goes behind the main seal cover plate. That cover plate also seals against the rear edge of the oil pan. I replaced the oil pan gasket about 2+ years ago and I remember the ancient gasket tearing apart when I removed it. If I pop off the cover plate do I run the risk of ruining the pan gasket?

[LappingLuke]

Only tangentially related question, are the flywheel bolts really 1 time use?

[R Shaffner]

Just did it on my 540. The Bentley manual said to put Drei Bond on that section of the pan gasket. (A sealant made for use with the oil pan gasket there.)

[cartoonz]

2yr old upper pan gasket? Probably will stay intact (unless you glued it). If it does tear, you can trim flush to the block with a razor and use a new back piece from another pan gasket with Rheinzolsil in the corners.

The flywheel bolts can be resued with new blue loctite applied.

[LappingLuke]

Ok that is what I was hoping. I didn't do anything special on install so it might be a clean job.