Gents
Any info on the machining requirements for the front and rear neoprene seals?
I have a front cover with felt seal that I would like to change to neoprene
Tia
Russ

IPD used to sell modified housings with exchange, not sure if they still do. I have seen the rear seal housing sold by several of the Volvo parts vendors with or without the seal installed. You can buy the seals separately and have the housings machined if you know of a competant machinist. The rear housing is fairly easy to machine and can be done on a lathe, the front, I think, would take some carefull fixturing on a milling machine.
The front seal is pretty easy to replace in place, almost not worth the expense of having it modified. When it leaks replace it.

Thanks for the response
I went with your suggestion and retained the original; and others who indicated that the felt seal is 'better' at sealing than the neoprene.
The decision was mainly based on no information regarding machining the cover.
I bought a new neoprene seal and normally I would say open the housing out so the seals installs as a tight fit. However the housing has a base that seats the felt seal. This is no more than 10mm from the front face of the gear casing.
Opening out the housing to this base would mean the neoprene seal sticks out by a fair margin.
The solution would be to remove the felt seal 'base' and seat to the rear of the housing.
Reading back thru that probably makes no sense (It doesn't to me!) however I'm hoping some of you will cut through the crap and realise what I'm saying!
Q. Can I remove/machine the base that the felt seal seals on so the neoprene seals sits properly in the housing?

I'm asking the question as the felt seal spring retainer is a pain in the a!*e and I'm fed up watching it spring out!!
TIA
Russ

Yes, you need to machine out that flange for a neoprene seal to fit. Leave the inner one, or bore all the way through, whichever is easiest.