Re: I need help identifying a plate either on the engine or trans.

Posted by HH56 On 2024/6/22 18:42:05

If that is definitely oil, it seems awfully thin and there is too much leaking for a rear main seal to be the cause unless the seal is missing or entirely destroyed. There are a couple of other possibilities at the rear for an oil leak that would provide sufficient volume for that much flow but you will need to remove the transmission and flex plate to check them.

At the end of the block there are two passages for oil to supply the lifter galleries where a Welch plug or maybe a pipe plug seals the ends of the passages that were used for access during machining. IIRC, one plug I believe is exposed and visible after the flex plate is removed but the other is recessed in the distributor shaft area. If a Welch plug, it is conceivable one of those could have come out or loosened and I believe there is also a Welch or core plug sealing the end of the camshaft bore which if loose or missing could also let oil feeding the rear cam bearing leak out.

That much flow could also be from a destroyed transmission front seal but in that situation the fluid should have a red tint if the proper fluid is in the trans.

Here are cutaway layouts showing the approximate locations where the Welch or pipe plugs are located.

Attach file:

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  Welch plug area.jpg (704.59 KB)


  Oil diagram.jpg (1,321.61 KB)