I have a rebuilt 350 small block from a 79 el camino that i have installed in my 79 camaro. a month after i put the motor in my camaro it has been leaking oil all over the passenger side of the engine compartment. ive replaced the valve cover gaskets twice. first to rubber valve cover gaskets and they were leaking so i replaced them with 7/16 thick cork gaskets and r.t.v.ed the mess out of it. it stopped there but now its leaking from lower down the front side of the motor(i think). i replaced the timing chain and gears to performance timing chain and gears and an after market chrome timing chain cover, paper gasket, r.t.v, etc... It was still leaking. I have pulled the oil pan gasket and replaced the oil pan gasket and it is still leaking. i thought it was leaking from the fuel pump on the block so i resealed the pump and it's still leaking. anybody who may have any helpful suggestions in resolving this constant uphill battle before i get to the end of my rope, would be much appreciated.

Is the oil dipstick on the passenger side? If so check where it goes into the block maybe it got knocked loose when the motor was pulled /installed. Also if the oil is on the ground and coming from the back check the block behind the intake manifold. The manifold gasket may be bad and is blowing oil out the back seal.

Failing the previous suggestion, I would get some spray on engine cleaner, go to a good car wash, spray the engine down with the cleaner, let it set for a few minutes, then spray that down with the car wash engine cleaner, THEN fire up the power wash cycle and clean everything up the best you can. The leak should be fairly easy to spot on the running engine after that.
Good Luck,
bill
:beer:

666, I use a special oil-additive dye from a local speed shop. Run the eng then shoot it with an infrared light in total darkness; your leaks will come to lite! One word of wisdom- some brands of anti-sieze will show up under the light. good luck with your find. Dale

there are 2 bolt holes in the front pass side of the block,down low,about even with the fuel pump,,
one is for locking the fuel pump push rod up,to change the pump,,,
it should have a real short bolt in it,,or it will leak oil...
if you fix a oil leak and then you get another and another,,,id check the crankcase vent,,
do you have a pcv and a breather vent ?? does it have a vent in both valve covers ??:texas:
crome covers are hard to seal,,nothing will want to stick unless you rough it up some...

I started getting oil splatters on my passenger side fender well but no oil on my headers side of block or valve covers only when I drive on the freeway I t was coming from the corner of my intake dripping down in front of my fuel pump but the fan was blowing the oil drops on my fender well before they could hit the ground before that I had tightend my intake bolts under my carb which caused the front of my intake to lift up so I loosend my bolts under my carb lightly I had over torque them seems to have worked for me if not I may have to replace my intake gasket.

and an after market chrome timing chain cover, paper gasket, r.t.v, etc... It was still leaking. I have pulled the oil pan gasket and replaced the oil pan gasket and it is still leaking. i thought it was leaking from the fuel pump on the block so i resealed the pump and it's still leaking.


If that is one of the stamped steel covers check the the front seal . alot of em wont hold it worth a darn and the oil seeps out around the outer diameter of the seal. they also dont seem to hold the front pan seal worth a hoot. been there.