[gtorich]

Originally Posted by 64speed

I guess it is upsetting. So much money and the last thing I was is spots in the driveway

I hear ya brother, im in the same boat, 3 rebuilds over the years and the rear main still leaks..................not gonna hi-jack this thread, but start a new one next week..............see if yours is anything like mine.

Rich

[Gach]

Oh my God !! Unbelievable.

[64speed]

Originally Posted by Gach

Oh my God !! Unbelievable.

It’s not that bad LOL. It’s just annoying. Car runs great.

[Gach]

I am relieved to hear that. LOL

[68WarDog]

Still think it would be a good idea to reach out to members of the Palmetto Pontiac club. There are some very knowledgeable guys in that club,

[Don 79 TA]

Originally Posted by 64speed

I guess it is upsetting. So much money and the last thing I was is spots in the driveway

depending how bad your issue is, but perhaps something else to possibly try
what kind of oil and weight do you use?
There's many articles out there about ester oils and how they help with seal issues. i think perhaps the key on that might be seal related vs say gasket, but i dont know, i've seen articles and it would say seals.

maybe using to thin oil? to fine? maybe try a group V base stock?
i use motul and haven't had issues
but as i've mentioned in the past, that engine dye stuff really helped me
one trick we did with a few customer cars, i should say the shop guys would do, is when troubleshooting an issue as finding a fine oil leak with a dye, is change oil, add dye, but on this change use the thinnest oil you can get your hands on, as thin oil, especially syn oils, if theres a place to leak, you'll leak and probably have better luck finding it. i used 0-8w when i did my troubleshooting, and of course changed once i saw the issue was resolved. didn't want dye flying around any longer than it needed. I know, probably just some stupid thinking on my part, but hey it worked for me.

i know in the later 70s/early 80s guys used to use thicker oils to help reduce leaks, again oil was so different back then, also for other tricks too, but you can compound other problems i suppose.

just a little more thinking outside the box to possibly help

[64speed]

This is still baffling me. I am dripping still BUT it looks like it’s coming from the front of the engine based on the driveway stain. It is nowhere near the back it’s more towards the middle. Front of the pan and timing cover and fuel pump are bone dry. I am lost

[steve25]

Around that middle area of the pan where you think it’s leaking remove two or three pan bolts .

If the threads are wet then that’s where a poor gasket seal is letting oil get the bolt and when all is hot weep out.

[gtorich]

Originally Posted by 64speed

This is still baffling me. I am dripping still BUT it looks like it’s coming from the front of the engine based on the driveway stain. It is nowhere near the back it’s more towards the middle. Front of the pan and timing cover and fuel pump are bone dry. I am lost

64speed, dont know if it will help, i pm"ed you about my similiar issues............i marked everything out with tape to see where the leak might be comming from..............one time its in the front, then the middle, then the back.............my front of the pan and tc and fuel pump are always dry also..............but im still dripping somewhere.....................i think steve 25 has a good plan..............im gonna try that myself.

[jhein]

Originally Posted by 64speed

This is still baffling me. I am dripping still BUT it looks like it’s coming from the front of the engine based on the driveway stain. It is nowhere near the back it’s more towards the middle. Front of the pan and timing cover and fuel pump are bone dry. I am lost

Sounds like you really need a smoke machine.

[chuckies76ta]

Check the bottom of the power steering pump and the power steering box itself. You need a lift to get under it.

[64speed]

It’s not far enough back to be rear main

[Verdoro 68]

Only one way to find out where it's coming from - grit your teeth, get under there and take a peek.

Dye might be a good way to trace the leak, just be aware that it sticks around in your engine for a while. I pulled and disassembled my engine twice and have done three or four oil changes since I put the dye in. The new oil still has a slight glow to it under UV.

[64speed]

After thorough examination I think a lot of mine is the drivers side valve cover. It has Felpro cork gaskets. Anyone recommend something else?

[78w72]

I have felpro cork gaskets in use for 15+ years that are bone dry, are you using steel covers or aluminum? If steel make sure the gasket surfaces are flat around bolt holes & maybe try the load spreaders, if aluminum spreaders shouldnt be needed since they are more rigid than steel.

Some get by with dry cork gaskets but I always use a thin layer of ultra black/grey permatex sealer, just a thin bead smoothed out with your finger to glue to the cover then a very thin layer to the head, will seal it up for a very long time & if careful when removing it lets you take them off and reuse a few times, just a light clean up of any lose area & a fresh coat on the head surface each time. Doing them dry with a light layer of grease can work too but the ultra black seems to give them a skin to allow more uses, almost like a rubber coated gasket.

They make a steel core rubber gasket too that gets mostly good reviews too.

[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by 64speed

After thorough examination I think a lot of mine is the drivers side valve cover. It has Felpro cork gaskets. Anyone recommend something else?

I've been using Felpro cork gaskets for over 40 years. The ones on my '65 are 42 years old and just starting to weep a small amount. I use no sealant at all on VC gaskets, just a couple dabs of grease to keep them in place on the valve cover when installing. And then I don't overtighten the valve covers.

[J.C.you]

Probably valve cover leak

[Verdoro 68]

I use the 1/4” thick cork FelPro gaskets since they’re more forgiving. I dab a little weatherstrip adhesive on the valve cover side to keep them in place, nothing on the head side. The key is not over tightening.

[64speed]

They are aluminum valve covers not chrome so I don’t think the flange is bent.

[Verdoro 68]

I use the 1/4” thick cork FelPro gaskets since they’re more forgiving. I dab a little weatherstrip adhesive on the valve cover side to keep them in place, nothing on the head side. The key is not over tightening.