Hey guys, I have quite the leak coming from what seems like the timing chain seal or the oil pan gasket. I used degreaser to clean off all the oil under the engine. (I've been finding the oil to be running back and drippin off the starter, off the oil pan, and eventually making it's way to the trans pan. Both pans are not stock, I have a bigger oil pan and a TCI tranny in there. Anyways, after I cleaned up the oil mess I went and tightened the oil pan bolts which were not by any means tight, the two larger bolts in the front were also loose. After I was done with that I noticed oil seemed like it was running out from the front of pan where it meets timing chain cover. SO. which is it?

 

If this is true, its most likely your pan gasket. The oil pan gasket seats against the bottom of the timing over.
The timing cover gasket comes in a C shape (i assume you know this already)

If it was the timing cover gasket, I think you would see oil leaking up higher under the water pump ish

Bare SBC for refrence

 

Alright thanks for your help, cleaned it up again and am going to let it sit over night to see exactly where it is coming from

 

Smog pump been hacked off of it?

Make sure there is a bolt in THIS hole.



If there's not one, you can look in it and see the fuel pump drive rod. Put a SHORT bolt in it with a drop of sealer on the threads.

 

You can see that bolt in the pic he posted, but making sure it's sealed is a good idea. I say start it up and crawl under there (easier said than done I know) If it's as bad as you say it will be apparent where it is before long.

 

@sofakingdom, the PO hacked the smog pump out, but was smart enough to put a bolt in that hole, that was my first place I looked and actually hoped there wasn't a bolt in there, cease, an easy fix. But no, still have been leaking a little after I tightened everything up but nothing out of control. Thanks for your help guys

 

Ran into this problem with mine after new engine swap. Some oil pans require different size gaskets up there. There are thin and thick gaskets, and I'd wager you need a thick one.

 

They typically leak up in the corners by where all of the goop is hanging out, especially with the original stock pans (where they round out). It could possibly be leaking up there and coming out at the bottom. My Milodon pan has extra meat and reinforcement in that area but I'm not sure what the pan you're using has. I still added extra sealer to that area as a couple of engine building books recommended it.
You seem to know what you're doing but I'm going to say it anyways, don't over tighten the bolts. lol



Good info on the thicker gasket, I didn't know that.

 

Thanks for the info, yes I didn't tighten anything tighter than they should be, it'd make it leaking worse, though the two larger bolts in front had about 2-3 turns in each of them, which id say is much too loose...

 

been a few times i wish i had one of these leak detector kits.