Fired up my new 383 and it had dumped 2 quarts of oil before I could get back around to shut off the engine.
After finding out where it was leaking from I pulled the intake off, cleaned everything and ran a heavy bead of Permatex Orange on the china walls and the corners of the head to china wall area.
Put it back on, had the wife start the engine while I watched and it still has a heavy stream of oil coming out between the Head and Manifold area left rear (rear drivers side).
I have never had this problem before with a small block this area has a gasket and I have never had to put sealant here before.
The intake is a copy of the Performer for Vortec heads purchased from Midwest Motorsports.
The block is a late model 4 bolt Single piece rear seal. Heads are Vortec and were running before on the previous engine with no problems.
I am thinking that it is a casting problem on the intake, but I am not sure as I have not built a new style block before.
Can any one offer any advice on what may be the problem here.

The leak is not from the china wall area but where the head and manifold seal with the intake gasket.

Thanks

 

you're using the proper vortec intake gasket right? The good ones are plastic and real thick. Driver's side rear of the intake = oil pressure sending unit... Sure thats not leaking? In fact if you're losing quarts of oil in a matter of seconds it must be the sending unit. Underneath the intake wont see high volumes of pressurized oil.

 

I wonder?

 

There is a pipe plug that goes in the block deck right there. The head covers up half of it, and it requires the removal of the head to install it. Are you sure there's one there now?

 

No its not the sending unit, correct gaskets are installed.
PIPE PLUG not sure.
Lo-tec do you have a pic of this plug before I pull the head to check if it is missing? It does sound like this is the problem. oil flow is at pump pressure this would account for the amount of oil that is being loss.

Thanks

 

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I just looked at an old longblock. It is in the location of the pic from F-BIRD'88 and you can see 1/2 of the hole the plug goes into with the head on. DO NOT pull the head to check this. Have someone start it for you and shine a light down in the hole. If the plug is missing you will know.

 

Thanks for the help guys!!
The plug was missing. I removed the head and put a pipe plug into the hole. Don't know how it was over looked Thanks again for the help