And yet another problem!!!!!!!!!!!

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Well I got the car ready to go, started her up, timed her, warmed her up, and backed her out. As I pull her out we notice some ****ing oil drizzling out from underneath. So I pull her in and we had to call it a night. I am absolutely crushed I wanted to drive this thing after a year. Well what do you guys think could cause this leak. I know that it isn't leaking out of the back of the intake, and it isn't the cam plug because we had the machine shop check all those plugs out and they said they didn't need to be replaced. The oil seems like it is lealing out of the back of the oil pan, I am using a one piece rubber fel-pro gasket. Because the oil is drizzling down the spacer plate between the engine and the tranny. What do you guys think?

 

[bnickel]

did you use the rope seal for the rear main or the newer double lip rubber seal? if you used the newer seal did you knock the locator pin for the rope seal out of the rear main cap? if you didn't you need to, also if you did you fill the little hole with silicone to prevent a leak? another question is if you the newer rubber seal did you offset the ends so that they weren't flush with the block?

get back to me and let me know

 

[10secgoal]

Is there oil on the back of the flywheel ?
It could still be a leak from the pan. The rear of mine was fine, but the from didn't seal so well. Wasn't quite thick enough to meet the pan and block. I took the fat rubber peice from a timing chain set and used that instead of the blue one piece.

 

[LMan]

rear main seal.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Oh no, well atleast it is good news, I never put silicone in that seal. It was a 2 piece rear main seal. Can anyone lay down a detailed installation instruction for putting in the rear main seal. It sounds like that is the problem, although it sucks, I hear you can do it without dropping the crank?

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Yep after doing a search and checking every thread, along with talking to Ronstang. I have discovered that I have installed the rear main seal bigtime wrong, so I get to tear into the oil pan for a 4th time ALL RIGHT!!!! Any detailed layouts on how to install one without dropping the crank would be greatly appreciated. I didn't use any silicone, the seals were not offset and the lip may be facing the other way. Hopefully this cures it so I can drive it next weekend.

 

[Pakrat]

With all the frustrating work you have been tackling lately I think it's time to invest a a Ford Shop manual if you don't own one already.

 

[jbuening]

Another thing that will cause this is the lack of thread sealer on the flywheel bolts.

 

[bnickel]

i've never experienced the oil leaking from flywheel bolts on a 351w, 289, 302 yes, just never have seen it on a windsor. i never use thread sealer on my flywheel bolts on any of the windsor motors i've built and never had a problem one. maybe i'm just lucky i guess?

 

[jbuening]

i've never experienced the oil leaking from flywheel bolts on a 351w, 289, 302 yes, just never have seen it on a windsor. i never use thread sealer on my flywheel bolts on any of the windsor motors i've built and never had a problem one. maybe i'm just lucky i guess?

Well since the 289/302 are basically the same block (different i know, but same block design), i'd say lucky. I used thread sealer on my flywheel bolts and they don't leak, but i've heard many people forget to and it comes back to bite them

 

[Max Power]

How would lack of thread sealer on flywheel bolts cause a leak? They don't tap into any oil passages....

 

[jbuening]

How would lack of thread sealer on flywheel bolts cause a leak? They don't tap into any oil passages....

IIRC, the flywheel bolt holes in the end of the crank go all the way through. True they aren't near the oil passages, but they are open to the crankcase. I'm no professional so take it with a grain of salt, but i've heard more than 10 people have leaks not from the rear main but from leaking flywheel bolts.

This is outlined in the Tom Monroe Rebuilding Small Block Fords and i believe is also in the Ford Manuals.

 

[jcode68]

I would have thought you want thread locker on the flywheel bolts, never considered thread sealer. I'm getting ready to install my FW this week, so definately want to get this right, please confirm.

 

[jbuening]

My bad, yes use threadlocker. It still acts as a threadsealer, but you don't want the bolts vibrating loose. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Yes I made sure to use some threadlocker luckily. I know for a fact that it is the rear main seal.

 

[Max Power]

IIRC, the flywheel bolt holes in the end of the crank go all the way through. True they aren't near the oil passages, but they are open to the crankcase. I'm no professional so take it with a grain of salt, but i've heard more than 10 people have leaks not from the rear main but from leaking flywheel bolts.

This is outlined in the Tom Monroe Rebuilding Small Block Fords and i believe is also in the Ford Manuals.

I did not know that, and I have rebuilt a dozen of these motors. I guess I never looked that closely, and I always use threadlocker to keep em from walking.