main seal..
 

dammit, I've gone and done it. pretty sure my main seal is leaking like hell and all over the flywheel. How do I know this? Sprays all over the headder collectors when engine is on and drips when it is off. Anybody who has been through this know how expensive a fix I'm in for? I'd drop the tranny and do it myself if I had a lift, but I'm screwed.

Sorry, can't tell you what it would cost, never paid one to do it before. If you can do it yourself go that route. I used a floor jack and jackstands and changed my motor and swapped the trans over to a c4. Got it all together and had to pull the trans back out because stupid me didn't change the front seal in the trans. A lift would make it easier but it's not that bad without one. I know, this is now what you asked :D

heh. yeah, the problem is I have nothing but time this weekend, but I'm piss scared to drive it the 200 miles to where my tools are. No matter what, the tranny will have to come out, so I'm expecting around $600 just on labor alone.

Well after 4 years of beating the heck out of my '79, the rear main seal just started leaking (it's wetting my h-pipe a little and dripping at idle). I've got my car on jack stands and bricks and have the driveshaft, h-pipe, and starter out (along with other little things that are in the way) and will finish changing after Thanksgiving (cause I'm leaving tomorrow and don't have time to finish it b4 I leave--- I'm pulling the tranny). Seal cost me $17 at local Ford dealer. So total cost = $17. :D

I dunno, but to pull the tranny (especially when a shop is gonna have a lift) and replace the rear main seal should be AT THE MOST $200!

i was charged 525 labor but i had the following done:
rear main seal
install clutch, throwout bearing, pilot bearing
install clutch cable, firewall adj, adj quadrant, shifter

rear main seal was $25, so u figure it should be around $200 including labor

I got my rear main seal, whole clutch assembly replaced, and a new clutch cable installed, for a total of $250 in labor. Granted as well this was done at a Ford Dealership. But to no luck now... My oil pan gasket is leaking in the back. You can always call up a garage and ask what the price is on getting it done.