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Technical Does your hot rod or custom have any leaks?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by HOTRODPRIMER, Oct 7, 2019.

  1. Over the years I have been plagued with a leak or two with my hot rods, sometimes hard to locate where it's coming from other times it's obvious.

    A small transmission fluid leak can leave a huge puddle under the car and a generally easy fix, often it's just a mater of tightening a bolt or replace a gasket.

    Most of my oil leaks can be traced to my valve covers, how do you guys make your engines leak proof, or can that possibly be done? HRP
     
    3W JOHN likes this.
  2. error404
    Joined: Dec 11, 2012
    Posts: 383

    error404
    Member
    from CA

    surprisingly, my 33 is the only vehicle I have that doesn't leak! I'm sure it'll be leaking when I'm done with it though, hah

    my 46 Willys I used to park it over a large (4'x3'?) concrete mixing tray. Engine, transmission, transfer case, and front diff always leaked. haha
     
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2019
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  3. Boneyard51
    Joined: Dec 10, 2017
    Posts: 6,440

    Boneyard51
    Member

    My avatar car, has a bad transmission leak, but I plan on replacing both the engine and transmission with larger units, so I just let it leak now and put a pan under it. Seems like I don’t sweat the small stuff as much... anymore.





    Bones
     
  4. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,931

    squirrel
    Member

    My Chevy II has not been leaking at all for a couple years now. It's spooky!

    but my old pickup truck leaks, so all is not lost.
     

  5. They all leak. Sooner or later. Its unavoidable, LOL.
     
    wicarnut, 3W JOHN, Sandgroper and 3 others like this.
  6. I have spent a fair amount of time trying to get my cars to not leak. Never been completely successful! If it's not leaking, it's probably out of oil...
     
    wackdaddy, vtx1800, 3W JOHN and 4 others like this.
  7. Flatheads leak, period! That front seal does anything but seal.



    Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.
     
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  8. AVater
    Joined: Dec 9, 2008
    Posts: 3,147

    AVater
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. Connecticut HAMB'ers

    Both my rides don’t have valve covers yet still manage to leak some oil. Mark nailed it.
     
  9. Yes gentlemen, my flathead front deal didn't! :rolleyes: HRP
     
    3W JOHN, ct1932ford and Boneyard51 like this.
  10. Hot Rods don't leak , there marking there territory.
     
  11. jim snow
    Joined: Feb 16, 2007
    Posts: 1,807

    jim snow
    Member

    Yup. Just keep diapers under it. Check fluids often. Snowman
     
  12. 2935ford
    Joined: Jan 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,843

    2935ford
    Member

    I'm on gasket set 3 to try to stem the flow from the front oil pan with my SBC 327.
     
  13. AldeanFan
    Joined: Dec 12, 2014
    Posts: 892

    AldeanFan

    The original 239 y block in my wagon leaked every type of fluid, transmission, power steering, oil, coolant and the carb seeped.

    The new 292 has no leaks sofar :) I’m super picky about installing gaskets and will spend a lot of time with a hammer and dolly straightening flanges.
    The car still has a power steering leak but only in the winter. Each spring I add a bottle of Lucas power steering stop leak and it won’t leak all summer. Over the winter the seals dry up and it leaks on the floor of my friends garage where I store her.

    The windows all leak but I try not to drive it in the rain.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  14. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,828

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    my Dodge Dart has a differential leak, the motor is still tight from a rebuild 30 years ago.

    my daily has an intake leak and I don't want to fix it. you can see the giant black spot where I park on Google Earth
     
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  15. have had really good luck with The Right Stuff. that stuff is amazing.
     
    mad mikey, 3W JOHN, LBCD and 3 others like this.
  16. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,755

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    leaking is not the car's fault... It is the oil trying to find its way back home.....
     
  17. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,931

    squirrel
    Member

    Might be that the gasket isn't the problem...try replacing the timing cover and/or oil pan. If either of them are aftermarket chrome, especially...see if you can find good old OEM original old parts.
     
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  18. Gman0046
    Joined: Jul 24, 2005
    Posts: 6,256

    Gman0046
    Member

    Down to one car my 60 Pontiac Bubbletop, less then 400 miles on it. To new to leak.
     
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  19. 51504bat
    Joined: May 22, 2010
    Posts: 4,754

    51504bat
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Not a good thing when you park cars in the house:)
     
  20. 56shoebox
    Joined: Sep 14, 2011
    Posts: 1,106

    56shoebox

    I concur. Much like a Harley, it's simply marking its territory.
     
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  21. You need to get out more Gary.
     
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  22. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,132

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    No car leaks here but the owner does!:eek:
     
    vetteguy402, 3W JOHN, 56don and 2 others like this.
  23. Boneyard51
    Joined: Dec 10, 2017
    Posts: 6,440

    Boneyard51
    Member

    Back when I working...... my OT daily driver had a huge leak, that kept my frame from rusting! Lol
    I parked in the same spot every day. Between the oil, carbon, dirt and whatever, I was getting a fairly big thick spot. Being a public garage, I got a lot of salesmen coming through trying to sell me everything in the book! If it was a chemical salesman with cleaners....... I would send him out to THAT spot! Told him if his product cleaned that spot , I would buy.....never bought a thing! But it sure sent them on their way! I kinda liked that spot! I’ve been retired 7 years now, and it’s almost gone.





    Bones
     
  24. Mark, you ain't right! :D HRP
     
  25. Did you put oil in it?:confused:
     
  26. Actually only one leaks there.:rolleyes:
     
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  27. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I challenge any Harley for the Championship of #1 Oil Leaker...:D...and Secondly I think The Ole Hotrod might not be a Witch as I don't think it would Float...:eek:
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2019
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  28. Slopok
    Joined: Jan 30, 2012
    Posts: 2,919

    Slopok
    Member

    I simply have an engine that doesn't use valve covers!;)
     
    3W JOHN, clem, Boneyard51 and 2 others like this.
  29. typo41
    Joined: Jul 8, 2011
    Posts: 2,571

    typo41
    Member Emeritus

    Chicks roadster leaks a bunch because we like the look of a fined oil pan,,, the fined oil pan come from across the pacific ocean, where they make all thing metric,, so the pan seal sucks,,, but it looks cool.
    So the drip-pan under the motor had almost more oil than the motor,,,
    But we have a new clean-up solution,,,
    For those of you that have kids or aged parents, a absorbent bed pad under the motor grabs the oil and after a while, a proper disposal takes care of the once oil soaked floor
     
    3W JOHN, Jibs, Stogy and 1 other person like this.
  30. AldeanFan
    Joined: Dec 12, 2014
    Posts: 892

    AldeanFan

    I had a friend with an MG, leaked a quart of oil per week and the underneath was always soaked in oil, somehow the floors still rotted out.



    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

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