chevy 350 oil leaks?Q

[marq]

i got a chevy 350 with a small leak from the timing chain case area.is this common is it anything to worry about and is there an easy fix?.............Marq

[Deuce Roadster]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif


Yes it is fairly common and it is fairly simple to fix........over here. I do not know about the parts supply in your country.

1) remove the water pump
2) pull the harmonic balancer
3) drop the oil pan
4) remove the timing chain cover..check the chain while you are in there

REPLACE the seal in the timing chain cover, put the cover back on (new gasket) and put the oil pan back on (new gasket here too). Last........install the water pump (new gaskets).

There are some who will tell you that you can just lower the front of the oil pan and get the timing chain cover off. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I almost always get a leak doing it that way. Your call.

[Baumi]

No, it´s not that common.There´s a paper seal between the case and the block. To change it you´ll need to remove the waterpump and the vibration dampner. Be sure to use the correct puller removing the dampner, otherwise it might be destroyed .
Check the dampner for wear where it runs in the round front crank seal.There´s also a repair kit availible for seized dampners.
Clean up all the surfaces properly and use new gaskets for the oilpan to timing cover, water pump and the crankshaft. Use a light coat of silicone gasket fluid and you´ll be fine!

Chris

[McGrath]

[ QUOTE ]



There are some who will tell you that you can just lower the front of the oil pan and get the timing chain cover off. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I almost always get a leak doing it that way. Your call.

[/ QUOTE ]


I have done it without dropping the pan, but you have to snip the corners off the little rail that holds the seal in place on the cover to get it back in place without pulling the pan. Mine didn't leak, but you're better off to drop the pan. Even with the corners snipped, its still a pain in the ass getting it back on with the pan in place.

[InPrimer]

Do it Deuce roadster's way. My leaked like a sieve because I was stupid and installed a stamped after market cover when I first put the 350 together. After leaving oil spots in all my friends driveways, I had to pull half of my '37 Chevy nose off to get to it, bought quality gaskets and a stock timing cover, no more leaks

[BELLM]

If it is leaking around the seal check the snout on the balancer where the seal lip makes contact.. If it is grooved where the seal runs there is a kit that comes with a sleeve that slips over the snout to eliminate the wear groove.Works well, easy to install. Most all I have ever rebuilt had some groove, I always use the sleeve, cheap insurance.

[BELLM]

Oh yeah, if you need a sleeve kit for the balancer & can't find one there let me know & I will get one and send it to you.

[1oldtimer]

make sure it's not comming from the fuel pump hole. there's 2 threaded holes on the front of the block by the fuel pump, 1 goes through (bottom bolt i think), you need a short 3/8" bolt and some teflon tape.

[SLAMIT]

Baumi you must not have had too many chevy motors over there. cause I dont think that there is one out there that doesnt leak at this point at one time or another. I have seen this leak on almost all smallblock chevys. And I do belive that it is better to drop the whole pan cause you will get a leak if you dont. I like to use Gasgacinch instead of silicone but that is my preference. And definately check that hole on the front of the right hand side of the block. I have also had those leak as well. One more thing. Check to make sure that the oil is not seeping out of the front of the intake manifold.

SLAMIT

[Baumi]

[ QUOTE ]
Baumi you must not have had too many chevy motors over there. cause I dont think that there is one out there that doesnt leak at this point at one time or another. I have seen this leak on almost all smallblock chevys. And I do belive that it is better to drop the whole pan cause you will get a leak if you dont. I like to use Gasgacinch instead of silicone but that is my preference. And definately check that hole on the front of the right hand side of the block. I have also had those leak as well. One more thing. Check to make sure that the oil is not seeping out of the front of the intake manifold.

SLAMIT

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, I did have and still have several sbc´s over here. None of them leaked oil after I had rebuild them. Sorry I´m not that good in English, but as I understood Marq wanted to know if there was a quick repair for a timing cover leak.A couple of weeks ago I´ve changed the cam in a buddy´s 32 coupe without removing the oil pan and it worked out just fine without any leaks showing up until now. We did so because he was in a hurry and had no new oil pan gasket. I did it because he wanted me to do so. I wouldn´t have done it this way on my rides. Sorry, I didn´t mean to harm anyone!

Chris