Persistent oil leak

[skink4president]

HELP! I've just about lost it over this one. A few months back I dropped the oil pan on my '73 k5 (350/350) to replace the rear main seal. While I was at it I dropped in a new pump, pick-up and new stock oil pan (the old one was beyond recognition). Almost immeditately after getting everything back together the pan-to-timing cover seal starts to leak. Because it's a '73 I used the thin front seal not paying attention to the fact that the previous owner had thrown on a crappy aftermarket timing cover that I was told uses a THICK front seal. So. . . . . I drop the pan again and throw in a thick seal. Thing still leaks. So I junk the old chrome timing cover in favor of a new Edelbrock aluminum one with the idea that it'll be more rigid and contains no welds. Guess what. . . . thing still leaks!

Now I'm thinking of going with a one-piece gasket for a change of pace to see if it helps. I'm installing the gaskets properly and torquing the pan to approx. 12 ft. lbs.

Any ideas???? Typically I wouldn't mind a small oil leak but it's gotten personal!

 

[dave_90_blazer]

did you use RTV at the corners?

 

[readymix]

did you use RTV at the corners?

Agreed

 

[skink4president]

Yeah, I RTV'd the corners. Followed all the rules to a T. Is there a difference between a '73 pan and a '74? As far as I know early SB is early SB but up to '73 they used the thin front seal and after the thick. I fugured this had to do with the timing cover and not the pan. I think they changed to the thick front seal so the TC could be replaced without removing the pan (that's what some old mechanics have told me)

 

[slider]

Use a felpro one piece oil pan gasket. No leaks and its reusable

 

[mouse]

I'll second the one-piece felpro unit. That thing is the best oil pan gasket I have ever used. Its like a piece of art....wait a minute, its a gasket. Oh well, it is nice, and it doesn't like to leak.

 

[dleroy43]

go through some mud that usualy stops my leaks

 

[1-ton]

You might try torquing it to more than 12 foot pounds. I usually go about 20 foot pounds. I know 12 pounds is the recomended, but I have never agreed with that.

 

[skink4president]

Thanks to everyone who posted. I'll grab one of the Fel-pro gaskets this week. BTW - I'm using those $60 Fel-pro valve cover gastets. I know it's a lot for valve cover gaskets but the things are great (silicone, compression limiters, reusable, etc) and put a stop to those annoying leaks!

 

[mouse]

Thanks to everyone who posted. I'll grab one of the Fel-pro gaskets this week. BTW - I'm using those $60 Fel-pro valve cover gastets. I know it's a lot for valve cover gaskets but the things are great (silicone, compression limiters, reusable, etc) and put a stop to those annoying leaks!

I didn't know they made those. I'll have to do a search and find some. I've been battling valve cover leaks for a long time....

 

[Russell]

It costs me 55 bucks each, but I will NEVER touch another multi-peice oil pan gasket ever again!

Those felpro silicone gaskets are simply incredible!