Hey guys

Looks like I need to do some gasket replacing on the 83. This past weekend, I left my mark wherever I parked (in the form of a big puddle of oil.

I figured I'll replace a couple of little things and pray it's not the dreaded two piece rear main seal.

I already changed the distributor O-ring once but I will do it again. I am also going to do KED's method of the sbc distributor gasket.

Does anyone have a part # for the distributor gasket?

 

not off hand, but only costs like $0.69 or so. just tell them you need one for an 80 camaro, 350.

 

From a '90 305 Camaro, Felpro #70194

 

What ya end up doing is asking for a distributor gasket from a 60's car like a 1967 Camaro 350.
CALL FIRST to the GM dealer or a parts store.
MANY PLACES no longer sell just those single distributor gaskets.
They cost about $.50 from the GM dealer, too.
Hope it works well for you.
Clean real through with brake/carb cleaner, and clean again with white paper towels.
Let air dry, a little black RTV film both sides, reassemble.
Hope my simple solution may cure your problem.
As I reassembly my 3.4 swap in the Blazer, I am using a new o ring & Small Block Chevy distributor gasket.
Why take a chance? Cheap insurance against a future leak.

 

Well I left before I had any responses. No big deal... The dealer had what I needed.

Yesterday, I tackled my massive oil leak that developed last Saturday. This was after I went to the junkyard to look at the heater hose routing on early v-6's (I had a kinked hose which left me w/no heat -- BRRRRR). I changed the oil, and installed a new GM oil plug and gasket. Then I removed the oil filter housing and replaced it with another one. The new housing received a new GM oil pressure sensor, and was sealed to the block with a conservative amount of RTV. After poking around I found the source of the major leak -- Driver's side Valve cover. Spent a good portion of the day cleaning it and reinstalling. I also rerouted the heater hoses and had a nice warm ride to work today. I didn't get to the distributor yet, but will probably tackle it this Saturday.

I did find something out... Turns out that (at least on the 83 V-6) there is a plastic washer that goes on the distributor shaft to further prevent leaks. I'm going to go back to the dealer to find out EXACTLY where it goes (looks like it goes on the oil pump shaft). The GM o-ring is also brown and a bit thicker than the Pep boys one. I think it may do even better than the other one I put on. So far this morning, it looks like its not leaking but it was pouring and I didn't spend too much time checking it out.

 

How difficult was the oil filter housing job?
Full details, please..
I have to redo mine & I'm not into it. With motor in car, damn!
Did you also get another o ring for the bolt that goes thru housing?

 

Ked -- It's an easy job

I kept the original bolt but scraped the old O-ring out of the groove. I then put some oil on the new one, and slipped it over the bolt and bolted it into the block. I applied black RTV to the housing. The hardest part was holding the housing in place while you started the bolt. I had my left hand holding it in place (coming in from the front) and started the bolt with my right. If you have air tools it is 1000% easier as an electric impact gun can't get in that space.

BTW-- the car was up on ramps and I think I used a deep wall 15MM socket and 6inch extension ( and a chitload of grunting) to loosen the bolt.

GM does have the bolt for sale if needed. I also soaked the new housing overnight in carb cleaner.

Don't try to scrape the old gasket off the block. It's happy where it is and will only frustrate you (that's why I used RTV).

 

THANK YA FOR THE TIPS!