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Reading the advice on the net re rear main seal installation, I am amazed at how many varied opinions are out there on this one subject, not just how deep the seal should be, but the question of whether to oil it or not. I opted to install it dry, but now I am beginning to have doubts especially when Bob Hoover says oil the inside surfaces because they will rip even when the motor is turned over by hand.
My question is...Just what exactly are the inside surfaces? Does that include the thin edge surfaces alongside the spring, because I guess it would be too late for me now as I have already installed the seal, though not the flywheel.
Incidentally I tried to seat it about 1/16 th.but went a little to far, about 3/16 and I think it may have hit the bottom.
Yeah i know there is a tool but it would take me weeks to get one here in Oz.

All I've ever done is to squirt a little Marvel Mystery Oil into the endplay shim area, dribbling a drop or three on the I.D. of the seal and distributing it around with the oil can nozzle on its way out. Never had any problems, either with the O.G. black seals or the orange hi-silicon style. On the other hand, you can have trouble with the O-ring, especially some of the poorly-made ones coming from south of the border. The "good" ones have no casting flash and are coated with a graphite lubricant, so they don't snag/smear/sliver off as the flywheel's slid on.
No harm done if you installed the seal all the way to the step, the only reason not to do that is if you're trying to avoid the lip(s) riding on a bad spot on the flywheel snout. Not all case castings are the same so you can't reliably gauge the installation depth by how far below flush the seal goes...it's more important that it be straight than any specific amount below flush. The proper tool makes it easier to ensure the seal goes in straight, but I got by for years just using an old piston and a hammer.

Phew! Thanks for that Marc I sure did not want to mess with that seal again.Will follow your advice on the oil also the O ring which I don't think too many people pay much attention to.