The Ford Barn

Samson · 05-22-2014, 03:57 PM

I have had my '52 FORD FH engine hot tanked and completely rebuilt with all new internals. It has a stock bore with 4" MERC crank (it came with the block) and 8RT heads. The engine runs fine and now has about 400 miles on it.
That is all good news.
NOW FOR MY PROBLEM:There is a BAD oil leak from the rear of the engine.
This leak was from day one of startup in the car after rebuild. Since then the engine has been taken out of the car three times to replace gaskets and rear seals.It still leaked. With engine running,the leak area was inspected with a
digital camera with probe. The leak source could not be found. I have been told to run the engine to get the seals and run in and soaked.
The builder has been rebuilding flatheads for many years and has never had a leak from the rear seal area.
Are there any suggestions? I welcome any and all.
With all the experience out there someone must have an idea.
THANK YOU for reading this long thread. I have no other means to explain.

Ross F-1 · 05-22-2014, 04:26 PM

The oil pump idler gear cover is right above that and could be leaking.

Dave/Green Bay · 05-22-2014, 04:54 PM

We used a 48 Cadillac rear rope seal as it is larger. Don't know if that will help but solved our problem. Dave/Green Bay

Vergil · 05-22-2014, 04:56 PM

On the early 8ba's there is an oil galley plug over the rear cam idler gear cover which may be leaking ... the later 8ba's do not have it ...

TomT/Williamsburg · 05-22-2014, 04:57 PM

I had a similar issue in my avatar - turns out the crank was out of spec and had to be reground, polished, and new bearings installed. I have not re-fired the engine yet but my crank was definitely screwed up and the cause of the problem ....

Ross F-1 · 05-22-2014, 06:03 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Vergil

On the early 8ba's there is an oil galley plug over the rear cam idler gear cover which may be leaking ... the later 8ba's do not have it ...

On the later 8BA's, it is under the edge of the oil pump gear cover

Walt Dupont--Me. · 05-22-2014, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vergil

On the early 8ba's there is an oil galley plug over the rear cam idler gear cover which may be leaking ... the later 8ba's do not have it ...

Vergi. That's a really nice job of bending those big steel piped. I believe that is an early 1948 pickup 8BA style engine. It has a 1/8 pipe plug in the back above the gear cover. I've see 2=3 of those engine. They don't have a fuel pump bushing. That plug in the back is so the factory could drill a small hole through the casting into the main oil line to feed the push rod. They also had head studs instead of bolts. In 49 they used the bushing with a small hole to feed the pushrod and did away with the rear plug. A little triver. Walt

Vergil · 05-22-2014, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt Dupont--Me.

Vergi. That's a really nice job of bending those big steel piped. I believe that is an early 1948 pickup 8BA style engine. It has a 1/8 pipe plug in the back above the gear cover. I've see 2=3 of those engine. They don't have a fuel pump bushing. That plug in the back is so the factory could drill a small hole through the casting into the main oil line to feed the push rod. They also had head studs instead of bolts. In 49 they used the bushing with a small hole to feed the pushrod and did away with the rear plug. A little triver. Walt

Thanks Walt, the stainless was a killer to bend, and good info you are sharing ....

ford3 · 05-22-2014, 11:25 PM

check the rear cam cover plate, have had that happen, I thought the rear main or pan gasket was leaking, it turned out to be the plate covering the back of the cam

Mac VP · 05-23-2014, 05:20 AM

Could also be the rear seal retainer....perhaps cracked? This part (8BA-6335) was made from pot metal. We reproduced them in solid aluminum. Check the easy parts first that the others have already suggested, but you may have to drop the crank if nothing else proves to be the culprit.

Please post the final resolution to the problem when you get it figured out.

gundoca · 05-23-2014, 11:20 AM

Just started up my 38 for the 1st time and a leak from top back above bell housing. Turned out to be bent flanges on the fuel pump riser was slightly bent and allowing oil from the oil filter return line to leak past the gasket.

05-22-2014, 03:57 PM	#1
Samson Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SC Posts: 23	Rear main leak I have had my '52 FORD FH engine hot tanked and completely rebuilt with all new internals. It has a stock bore with 4" MERC crank (it came with the block) and 8RT heads. The engine runs fine and now has about 400 miles on it. That is all good news. NOW FOR MY PROBLEM:There is a BAD oil leak from the rear of the engine. This leak was from day one of startup in the car after rebuild. Since then the engine has been taken out of the car three times to replace gaskets and rear seals.It still leaked. With engine running,the leak area was inspected with a digital camera with probe. The leak source could not be found. I have been told to run the engine to get the seals and run in and soaked. The builder has been rebuilding flatheads for many years and has never had a leak from the rear seal area. Are there any suggestions? I welcome any and all. With all the experience out there someone must have an idea. THANK YOU for reading this long thread. I have no other means to explain.

05-22-2014, 04:26 PM	#2
Ross F-1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NM Posts: 2,438	Re: Rear main leak The oil pump idler gear cover is right above that and could be leaking. __________________ '52 F-1, EAB flathead

05-22-2014, 04:54 PM	#3
Dave/Green Bay Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Green Bay Posts: 391	Re: Rear main leak We used a 48 Cadillac rear rope seal as it is larger. Don't know if that will help but solved our problem. Dave/Green Bay

05-22-2014, 04:56 PM	#4
Vergil Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tehachapi, CA Posts: 361	Re: Rear main leak On the early 8ba's there is an oil galley plug over the rear cam idler gear cover which may be leaking ... the later 8ba's do not have it ... __________________ Bigger fonts to aid in reading

05-22-2014, 04:57 PM	#5
TomT/Williamsburg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Williamsburg, Virginia Posts: 2,654	Re: Rear main leak I had a similar issue in my avatar - turns out the crank was out of spec and had to be reground, polished, and new bearings installed. I have not re-fired the engine yet but my crank was definitely screwed up and the cause of the problem ....

05-22-2014, 11:25 PM	#9
ford3 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: oroville calif. Posts: 1,453	Re: Rear main leak check the rear cam cover plate, have had that happen, I thought the rear main or pan gasket was leaking, it turned out to be the plate covering the back of the cam

05-23-2014, 05:20 AM	#10
Mac VP Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,361	Re: Rear main leak Could also be the rear seal retainer....perhaps cracked? This part (8BA-6335) was made from pot metal. We reproduced them in solid aluminum. Check the easy parts first that the others have already suggested, but you may have to drop the crank if nothing else proves to be the culprit. Please post the final resolution to the problem when you get it figured out. __________________ VANPELT SALES LLC Cincinnati, Ohio Office: 513-724-9486 www.vanpeltsales.com www.classictransmission.com Last edited by Mac VP; 05-23-2014 at 07:58 PM.

05-23-2014, 11:20 AM	#11
gundoca Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Lubbock Texas Posts: 70	Re: Rear main leak Just started up my 38 for the 1st time and a leak from top back above bell housing. Turned out to be bent flanges on the fuel pump riser was slightly bent and allowing oil from the oil filter return line to leak past the gasket.