Re: The Duchess Project: 1940 Super 8 Convertible Sedan

Posted by HH56 On 2019/7/14 16:02:39

As I recall the rear main and the transmission input shaft and nose are the only direct places oil could be coming from to get inside the bellhousing. If the leather cover over the clutch fork is missing or damaged something could get blown in thru that opening but otherwise, even without a gasket the halves mate together well so doubtful much would be able to get thru. If anything were being blown from the fuel pump or brakes toward the back in enough quantity to get between the block and bellhousing to drip down and inside I would expect there would be a substantial enough oil film or streaking on the block to be noticeable.

There is a service bulletin on rear main seals and making sure the oil pan flange at the rear edge is flat as well as the use of copper washers instead of lock washers to prevent oil from leaking thru the rear pan screw holes.https://www.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/SC/SL-VOL13NO21.pdf

Several bulletins cover the wooden pieces on the rear main which were also a source of leaks that could get into the bellhousing. Some were undersized and others damaged during installation which apparently caused enough issues Packard replaced them with cork pieces. Since you had your engine rebuilt and as dark as the oil appears I wonder if something with the rear main or the oil pan is amiss.