Oil leak

[Flyingthere]

Well I have been able to complete a lot of work on my car recently, new front end, replaced the cam box (right side) gasket that leaked so well and am about to do the valve shims. In a prior note I told you about a problem with my cam box and now I have a picture to share. Sometime in the past a mechanic had a broken support in the cam box and welded it back together , the problem is that a glob of weld is standing up high enough to prevent the cam cover from sitting down all the way and allowed for leaks. I ground it down when I had the cam box off so I can get a good seal. This is the picture after I cleaned it up. . So I resolved the leaking at the base of the cam box, at the valve cover and at the distributor, (well I need to order a new gasket, the one I made held up for about 250 miles but is leaking some) I still have some oil however showing up on the bell housing and on the exhaust manifold above the front stud. I can not tell where it is coming from and the picture does not give a good representation of the leak. Can anybody give me ideas where it may be coming from? this shows the front stud.

[ventura ace]

If the cam box base gaskets are truly leak free, I would suspect that the leak is either coming from the head gasket or the 2nd exhaust stud from the front, and seaping down to where you see it around #1 stud. The #2 stud threaded hole goes all the way thru to the oil bath inside the cam tower, so if not sealed properly, it will leak.

Nice work cleaning up the weld blob!

Alvon

[Flyingthere]

Thanks Ace I will look at the second stud.

[So Cal Mark]

I doubt the head gasket will let the oil leak up to the stud, and usually a leak at the #2 stud has oil leaking down or back, not fwd. I'd look at the back of the cam gear for signs of a leak, it will blow back on the manifold. The most likely spot is the cam box though

[Flyingthere]

Thanks Mark, I did notice a little, very little oil on the inside of the cambox in the front. I am going to be doing the valve shim and will double check my torque on the cam box. I will have to look and see but I am thinking it is 14 or 21 foot pounds.