The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Still have an oil leak

I still have an oil leak at the front of my rebuilt 235. I got a bit upset about the lousy job but took some good advice from "atomarc" & towed it back to my "mechanic".

I watched & helped with redoing the work.

He did not rebuild the motor I ordered it from Thunderbolt in Houston in December of 2004 his job was to install it.

It was leaking a lot from the bottom of the Timing Cover so we pulled it and re-tapped the lower holes for 10x1.5 mm bolts they had been put in from the outside with out being tapped for outside bolts.

I never said this guy understood what he was doing, I just love him but he is a young guy that is a good parts changer on late model vehicles.

So the Timing cover is back on & done right according every thread I found in the forum & It does not leak.

It was also leaking down the back side of the plate near the bottom of the front horse shoe of the pan. That location is hard to see if it is a pan leak or a leak behind the plate. I know to hope it is not the plate.

So we pulled the pan & took a chance on lots of red Permitex rather than waiting several days on a new gasket set. Well it still leaks the same amount in the same place.

The new gasket set will be here Tues or Wed we will pull the pan and install the new gasket set. ( And inspect the plate with the pan off for cracks ect. )

Does anyone have any advice on what else we can do? I have read every oil leak thread on the Forum.

Thanks, Kelly

53 3100
http://www.cravy.com/53-3100/LadyAfterRats.jpg

Rear main seal would be my guess. And can be fixed with the pan off.

Hell you are in Center Texas. I'll come look at it if you want. I live in Nacogdoches.

ext44,

Isn't that plate the front motor attachment. The timing cover you had the problems with attaches to the front of that plate.

Is that what you are describing?

Here is a picture.

http://chevy.tocmp.com/1929_57chevyparts/57cmpc0102.htm

Stuart

Yes that front motor plate oil was leaking on both sides, from the cover in front of the plate that we fixed. And behind it, maybe a new pan gasket will fix that one.

Toyvo I have the truck in a Lufkin shop if a new pan gasket does not stop it I would sure like for you to look at it.

Kelly

Upps I read that wrong. I thought they said rear of oil pan. Not the rear main seal.

Maybe they will let me come look. Its only 15 or so miles.

Who has it in lufkin?

ext44,

I hope your pan gasket fixes the problem.

With all the activity of drilling and tapping and whatever on the timing cover, I can't help but think the plate has been compromised.

There is suppose to be a gasket between the plate and the block. I would be 150% sure this area was perfect when I had the pan off.

Make sure the timing cover was installed properly. The 'centered seal' is the reference location for the cover before it is bolted down.

Oil can sneak down a surface and give you the impression it is coming from somewhere else.


Stuart

The leaks are fixed.

We had tapped the block & the plate & that pulled the plate back when the 10mm bolts went in.

We put 2 8mm bolts thru every thing with lock nuts on the out side, and installed a new oil pan gasket.

No more leaks!!

Thanks, Kelly

ext44,

Good news for you. You do realize you cannot post on this forum any longer. Your old truck has now been "metric-ized"...you will have to go over to the import forum.

Stuart