[Gmecm] Off topic - rear main seal packing

[David Allen]

  Hey here's an off-topic post for ya!  I am assembling a Buick 231 V6 which 
has the "rope type" rear main seal.  All the other engines I've assembled 
have been equipped with a lip-style oil seal.  This rope type seal puts a 
serious bind on the crankshaft.  It takes about 30 lb-ft of torque to rotate 
the crankshaft with only the main bearings and rear main seal installed.
  With the seal packing not installed, and the mains torqued the crank will 
rotate freely.  It's the packing causing the drag.  Is this normal, or is 
there a problem with the amount of packing I have installed? The 
instructions say to push the packing in the groove with a socket and shave 
it flush with the cap and block.  I did it this way and everything looks 
good and went toghether smoothly.
  Most older engines had the rope-type seal you guys may be able to tell me 
if this is supposed to cause this much drag?
  Thanks in advance!
David