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Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:17 pm

Just finishing up my notch engine overhaul. I have been real careful and have not hurried anything. I even missed the Michigan invasion because I have been so intense with my rebuild. New crank, rods, bearings, heads, valves seals etc., etc, etc. I re-split the case twice to make sure everything was aligned and timed properly. I followed my Bentley like a bible but alas. After re-installing the trans and engine in the car (by myself), hooking up the wiring and finally trying to start it I have a gusher oil leak near the back left pushrod tube . It only leaks when the engine turns over then stops until it is turned over again. I think---hope it's a bad push rod tube (all new). After inspecting the front of the engine the main oil seal seems tight as well as the end cap on the cam shaft. Also, my timing is in outer space. Don't know why. Everything was put back in order. Must have missed something. Back to it tomorrow. Just venting. Thanks for listening

Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:32 pm

Look for a crack on the front (FRONT) face of the block near #3, behind the flywheel. Sometimes a crack develops there near an oil galley and can leak under pressure.

Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:31 am

Wow!! You'r scaring me! Wouldn't that have been noticed during the rebuild?? I had the case split and gave it a good cleaning. Also, we're talking about a real gusher. I'll be looking closer today.

Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:17 am

ClareSutton wrote: Wow!! You'r scaring me! Wouldn't that have been noticed during the rebuild?? I had the case split and gave it a good cleaning. Also, we're talking about a real gusher. I'll be looking closer today.

Did you forget the metal camshaft plug?

Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:22 am

Maybe leaky oil cooler seals, and the oil is running down over #3 to the area you see the oil? There are various seal designs depending on the case and cooler you are using, some using spacer washers, some not.

Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:51 am

The end cap for the cam shaft is installed and tight. I can see it. I did replace all of the oil cooler seals...but I'll check it out. Maybe I didn't tighten the bolts enough. Good tips. Thanks

Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:08 pm

KTPhil was right. I have oil running out of the bottom of the oil cooler like there are no seals at all..but there is. I tried tightening down the bolts but no improvement. Guess I'm taking off the cooler. At least it's far better than a cracked block. Taking off the left side cylinder cover plate will not be a picnic but it's still better than having to remove the engine again. Thanks for the tips.

Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:31 pm

On my '66 squareback engine someone had installed the oil cooler seals with no spacers(early block with 8mm oil passages). The seals were totally compressed, this actually formed a crack in the block next to the oil passage where the cooler seals are installed.

Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:20 pm

Measure the case holes and also the cooler holes, and then take a photo of your mounting boss. We can then tell you which seals or washers to use.

Glad it's not a cracked case!

Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:20 am

I did use spacers but I am wondering about the seals. In my gasket kit there was actually two sets of seals depending on the type of cooler. I may have used the wrong ones. When I get the cooler off I'll take some pics. Thanks guys.