The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Road Trip,and Fall

Well... I went to help a friend move today. Truck ran excellent-for the first 10 miles. Passenger heard a noise,like a tool box door dropping,so I pulled it over to inspect. nothing open,or missing,so I continued driving. when i shifted into 4th,i noticed the clutch slipping,and thought it was odd,it never did that before,and couldn't smell hot asbestos. I continued running good,for another couple of miles,when i heard something like a valve train rattle,(like an over-heated engine. At the same time,my oil pressure dropped to about 20 P.S.I.,from its normal 45. As soon as I got it on the shoulder,I pushed the clutch in,and it "died". I jumped out,looked under the truck,and i had about 1/2 a quart of oil on the ground,and it was running out of the rear main seal area. After letting it sit for a couple of hours,it started right up,and I didn't hear a rod knock,but shut it down immediately,as to not cause further damage. I've heard of rear main seals leaking a quart,every 100 miles or so,but to lose that much oil that quickly?? I have a few spatters on the firewall,but looks like most is coming from the pan/bell housing area. All the FLAPS around here list 235's,but don't show 261 oil seals. Are they the same?? THANKS!!

235 and 261 use the same seal.
To dump that much oil I would suspect too loose of a rear main clearance, or the engine is not vented correctly.

I wonder if the plug in back of the cam fell out.

Hope not... Sounds like a complicated fix! Thanks,though! Food for thought.