Leaking from fuel pump blockoff plate

[AddictedOffroad]

My new 72' Blazer is leaking oil from the fuel block off plate. The PO told me he used a cheap chrome piece from like Autozone or something for it. Anyway, I would like to replace it with a quality piece and not have to deal with the oil leaking again. Anyone recommend one, or will most of the billet ones from Summit work just fine?
http://store.summitracing.com/egnse...6+4294908215+115+4294925079&Ntk=KeywordSearch

 

[Smitty]

Even the cheap chrome ones should work fine. It's only a piece of metal without any complex bends. I'd pull it off and replace the gasket. If the chrome bothers you, paint it before you put it back on...

 

[dyeager535]

or you could just go get one off of an earlier chev injected motor, since they used blockoffs as well. Not chrome, and pretty stout pieces.

 

[1979jimmy350]

i would say keep the chrome one and just use a new gasket with some RTV on it that should stop the leaking fine

 

[reddog64]

or you could take this oppertunity to just replace teh whole motor...

Take the chrome piece off, sand down teh mating surfaces to remove/rought up the chrome, rtv, and your good to go.

 

[vortec]

x3 or something on silicone. i use that stuff for almost everything now. it's great on toast

 

[4X4HIGH]

Or you could make sure there is a bolt in the front of the block where it intersects the fuel pump pushrod. This is a common mistake that people make. They remove the bolt for one reason or the other then wonder why they have an oil leak down in that corner. Most people think it is the fuel pump plate leaking (just like you do). Not saying this is the case but i wouldn't rule it out until you know for sure. There are two bolt holes vertically above one another and the top hole needs to have a 1/2" long bolt in the hole.

 

[pvfjr]

Yep, I found that out on my motor. That's the bolt that intersects the push rod. You pull the short one out, and put a longer one in that will actually hit the pushrod, and it will hold the rod in place while you replace the pump. But when you're done, you GOTTA take the long one out, AND put the short one back in, WITH some silicone. PO failed to do that on my motor. Even if you're leaking from the gasket, I'd still yank the bolt, clean it up, silicone it, and put it back.

 

[Kenny78]

I have an oil leak also. And I am on my way to the parts store. Can anyone confirm that the bolt in the top hole is 1/2" in length? I can check with a tap, but what about thread also.
TIA Kenny

 

[pvfjr]

I want to say that a 3/8-16 x 1/2" would work, but maybe it's 5/16? Thought it was just a 3/8 bolt though. 1/2" length would be fine.