... yes, it could be the back of the valve cover, the lower rear corner of the side cover or it could be the flywheel. That's right ... the flywheel.
When rebuilding these engines I have found more than one machine shop pull the dowell pins out of the back flange of the crankshaft - the pins that line up the flywheel when you bolt it onto the crankshaft. Check to be sure they are there. If not the hole they go into goes right through the crankshaft flange into the oil pan cavity. It will pump the oil out into the flywheel cover and it drips on the ground. You would swear it's the rearmain seal!
I believe there are two or three of these pins in the crankshaft flange. It only takes one!
Hope this helps you out!
Joe
