ye olde oil leak

[Naumoff]

DU,
Is it easier to pull the engine and trans out together or do you have to pull the interior anyway? Pull the engine and replace all the gaskets. Might be quicker and easier.

In my opinion if the car has to make a run before the oil leak shows up it is due to sloshing around the areas were the oil will collect on its way back to the pan.

[double ugly]

Pulling the engine with the transmission attached is real tricky, I think. To get the engine out the radiator and pusher fans need to come out in order to get the hood off. Much easier to take the seats out and remove the tunnel and lift the tranny out etc.
John

[Jac Mac]

John , here is another tip you may want to try before you pull the trans, seal off your breathers etc on the rocker covers. apply an old reversed vacuum cleaner or low pressure air source to the oil filler cap. Remove the dip stick to allow most of the pressure to escape and apply some dishwash/ liquid soap & water mix to any suspect areas like the valley gaskets etc, any leaks should show as bubbles. Do not use excessive pressure or you may create a few more leaks.

Jac Mac

[easystep]

I know Keith Craft on his FE builds machines all the blocks he does for a single-piece rear main seal. If you are going to pull your engine, you may want to think about this. It's supposed to cut down on leaks from this area considerably.

[Carnut427]

Originally Posted by easystep

I know Keith Craft on his FE builds machines all the blocks he does for a single-piece rear main seal. If you are going to pull your engine, you may want to think about this. It's supposed to cut down on leaks from this area considerably.

You must be thinking of a smallblock...the later models ('85 or so up) come with a one-piece rear seal, which takes a modified crank. Can't be done on an FE.

Dan

[double ugly]

I've decided to pull the intake manifold and replace the gaskets along with the valve cover gaskets. This will take a lot less time than removing the interior to get the tranny etc. out to check the galley plugs. (many people have told me that it is fairly rare for them to leak the quantity required to cause my problem). I've already wasted the money to have the rear main replaced so I've decided this is the next step. The gaskets are cork not a silicone smear but it seems like a logical next step. I did notice that the left and right sides at the rear of the intake gasket are a translusent grey/black. This may indicate a leak. I'm really surprised that the black light didn't show any thing there though. Again thanks for all your advice as the saga continues.
John

[double ugly]

Well, I went to Checkers and bought Felpro gaskets (20 mile round trip) and by the time I got home the oil and water temps had reached normal temps of 65-70 degrees. I put it on the Quik Lift and a couple hours later looked under the car. The oil spot was the size of a quarter. (can live with that) I figured that maybe the mechanic was right and it was oil residue in the bellhousing working it's way out from a previous faulty rear main. I checked again an hour later and no change in the size. After the baseball game I went out and found the size had increased to half the size of a dollar bill. Crap. Look's like I'll replace the intake gasket but I really have my doubts that it will change anything. Using a Q-tip I found no wetness behind the intake manifold.
John