Re: 35 Senior 8 Oil Loss

Posted by Bill Heptig On 2012/1/16 18:36:52

I have an update on my situation, turns out my initial optimism wasn't justified, and I'm still facing the issue. The engine was put back in the car and after and extended run it still has the issue, a real bummer. The thinking now is the case is cracked and when hot enough will allow the oil to leak.

Part of the reason to post this is as information that may benefit someone in a similar straights, at the back of the case the casting has a pathway from the rear main bearing the the point the oil pressure drives the instrument on the panel, the thinking is that the aluminum is cracked and when hot will open up and lose oil, a lot of oil. this was inspected, looked at it myself, nothing was apparent, but the car still loses the oil. Cracks in aluminum can be tough to locate.

I was skeptical when we had it out that that was my issue, the radiator was not attached to the engine, as a result the engine never got hot enough to fail, a garden hose was used to provide cooling water for a test.

In November before the engine was pulled I found a fellow who was selling a '34 engine without the accessories and I went and bought it.

The '35s engine previously had been overhauled, so it has all new internal parts, main bearings, crank, inserts, pistons etc, so the thinking is to move all this stuff on to the the 34 case.

I'd be interested any thought from anyone here on what may make sense at this point and any issues that may be encountered trying to do what I'm describing, at this point we haven't yet started to work the situation what I'm planning on is a follows:

- Buy some oil dye and run the car with that, the aluminum at the back of the case when the engine was pulled was very clean looking no hint of a leak, but I'm told that this is normal because the metal used back in the day cleaned up like this, can any one confirm that? I'm just not comfortable with guess work on what is causing the leak.

- Does the oil die work, have you seen it used with a situation like I'm facing?

- Will there be issues with a case from the 34 being used with all the other pieces from the '35. I'm wondering if moving the bearing blocks from one case to another would work and be in tolerance for the crank, or would the parts need to be redone (ouch!)

- would appreciate any thoughts on pitfalls with the engine work I may not know about, education seems expensive If I'm headed off in the wrong direction please tell me!