[FWDLK] As goes Main (seal), so goes Faulkner

[Dan Morton <morton@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I was aware of a slight leak from the rear main, but it wasn't until I took
Faulkner for a spin on the highway that I became aware of just how big a
problem I had.  I ended up with a small pool of oil on the garage floor
after my drive.

I had posted previously to this group about the problem, and what I needed
to do to replace the main seal.  However, a mechanic friend of mine
suggested I should first check under the valve covers before I did anything.
He claimed that sludge buildup can prevent the release of crankcase pressure
from blowby, and you can lose oil out the rear main.  Today I put that
theory to the test.

I remove the driver's side cover, and fershur there was sludge.  Not as bad
as I had feared, but both oil ports at opposite sides of the head were
completely blocked.  I cleaned out as much sludge as I could, and then
worked a 14 gauge copper wire down each port, twisting and pulling a little
bit more sludge out each time.  I used the same trick on each of the rocker
ports...

Pleased with myself, I started the engine and waited for it to warm up, so I
could adjust the valves.  As I watched the dance of the push rods, a glint
from a growing pool of oil on the ground caught my eye.  I killed the
engine, but watched as the pool grew and grew.  Eventually, it drained the
crankcase, at least to the level of the bottom of the seal.

It's apparent that, despite my wishful thinking, I indeed need to replace
the rear seal.  It's gone.  My question is:  Could there possibly be a
relation between clearing the oil ports, and the sudden surge of oil?  My
inclination is to say it was coincidental, and the condition was just
worsening... What do you think?

At any rate, if I can get the 318 to stop leaking, I'll drive it for a while
before a rebuild.  But there's a replacement rear seal in Faulkner's
future...

        Dan
        '59 Sport Fury

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2003 Calendar voting results and ordering information is online!  Please visit:
http://www.forwardlook.net/calendar2003 for more information.