Engine diaper

[Ritzy1]

Saw an article in The V8 Times about someone who was making engine diapers, so I thought I'd give it a try. I cut out a square from an old double layer tarp big enough to hold a couple of layers of absorbent pads. My wife was kind enough to sew in some magnets, and it fit perfectly! Hopefully that will absorb the drips from that cotter pin in the pan below the flywheel. Even though everything in the motor is fresh, it still leaks and I'd rather not have to keep a drip pan under the car.

[19Fordy]

Does that stay attached to your car while driving it or is it installed each time after you park your car in the garage?

[FortyNiner]

I just buy oversize walk-off floor mats for under the old iron. A couple of drips get lost in the pattern.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Does that stay attached to your car while driving it or is it installed each time after you park your car in the garage?

I'd have to ask the same question as 19Fordy....do you remove this before driving? If not, I can imagine SOME awful circumstance causing the magnets to release somehow, possibly resulting with that thing being drawn or tugged or sucked into the rotating fan and belts. I can vividly imagine THAT not being too good of a situation. Is that a T5 I see peeking out in that last picture? If so, any details on the install? DD

[Jack E/NJ]

It's such a nice diaper. Probably nice strong rare earth magnets holding it in place too. And so neatly arranged. Seems like such a hassle removing a nice oily diaper every time to drive the car. I'd probably leave it on and take my chances. 8^) Jack E/NJ

[Ritzy1]

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Just did it today, but my intention is to try leaving it on there even when I drive it. It's stuck to the pan pretty tightly, so hopefully it won't become dislodged while being driven. My only concern is wind getting under it somehow, but we'll see. Taking it off and reinstalling it would be more effort than just leaving the drip pan on the driveway.

[51 MERC-CT]

Believe the diaper started with this thread in 2016 and continued for several more threads.


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ghlight=diaper


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ghlight=diaper
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ghlight=diaper

[Ritzy1]

Don't see how it could possibly get sucked into the (electric) fan and/or belts, wind at highway speed is its perceived enemy, if there is one. Yes, it's got a T-5. Full build thread on the HAMB (Tale of two cities).

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Ritzy1

Just did it today, but my intention is to try leaving it on there even when I drive it. It's stuck to the pan pretty tightly, so hopefully it won't become dislodged while being driven. My only concern is wind getting under it somehow, but we'll see. Taking it off and reinstalling it would be more effort than just leaving the drip pan on the driveway.

OK, I'll buy that! But...is that a T5 transmission, or maybe even a Muncie 4-speed that I see in this picture? If so, please give us a little more info on it. That would interest ME a lot more than the diaper. BUT I STILL LIKE YOUR DIAPER!! DD

[GB SISSON]

They make some really big zip ties these days. Thinking two would hold it along with the magnets. Few things are worse than sliding under the car to check on something and contacting that greasy puddle with the back of your head. Or even your good jacket.

[Ritzy1]

[QUOTE=V8COOPMAN;1867282]OK, I'll buy that! But...is that a T5 transmission, or maybe even a Muncie 4-speed that I see in this picture? If so, please give us a little more info on it. That would interest ME a lot more than the diaper. BUT I STILL LIKE YOUR DIAPER!! DD

Thanks. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've got a complete build thread on the HAMB: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...build.1021019/. You'll find the T-5 install info on there (pgs. 1 and 4).

[dwick01]

Your post on the HAMB was awesome! Lots of good pictures & information.

[Charlie ny]

A super quality build........all the more impressive since the body and frame never parted

company. I love my stone and gravel driveway out here in the sticks, the drips just disappear.
Charlie

[whizzernick]

I am the person who makes the diaper for fords ( see ) my posts.
I have made around 100 so far no complaints . I also make one for the rearend ( they sometimes leak ) My price is $ 50 includes shipping. I also make it long so as it goes under and to the back of transmission. MY DIAPERS DO NOT BLOW OFF

I KNOW ( from the post now and when I brought it up last time ) most of you prefer to leave the mess--- use cardboard--- like you ford as henry built it --
or just ignore the fact that our fords were designed to leak.

[34fordy]

The issue of dripping oil on my friends driveway plus having a pan on my shop floor needed a remedy. I cut and bent a metal sheet to fit onto the rear portion of the wishbone. I bought 15"x30" 3M pads at Arnold Motors, folded them to 15x10 and snipped the corners to match the pan's narrower rear. I use the large clips to hold in place but doubt they are necessary. I can reach under without raising the car and replace the pad. I probably change sometime around 500 miles but feel I could go longer as the absorption capacity is evidently large. I have not had a drip yet. Last year was the first full year of use and I am very satisfied with the results.

[RKS.PA]

Dave, know this is not about the "diaper", but do you think redoing the rear mail seal and rear cork pan gasket might solve the leak?

You can remove the pan...easier on your brother's lift....with the engine in the car. Maybe cut the lower half of a new 3/8" rope seal 1/8" proud with a dollop or black RTV on each edge and re-install? Guessing you used the one piece neoprene seal in the front?

Did this on the 59 AB in my '39 after not doing this at the time I rebuilt the engine. It never leaked after. Just did this on my '47 and am praying it stays dry....good so far, but haven't run it enough yet!! And, yes I know these engines all leaked, even from the factory!! So, if my last attempt fails, I'm prepared to live with it!!

Really enjoyed following along with your HAMB postings....beautiful work and photo documentary!!

Best of luck....Dick.

[Ritzy1]

Originally Posted by dwick01

Your post on the HAMB was awesome! Lots of good pictures & information.

Thank you! Once I was able to drive it, I kind of put off doing all the little stuff I still had on the list, I was having too much fun hitting every show I could get to. As you may have seen on my build thread, I'm in the midst of rebuilding all of the door hardware, seals and installing new glass. I'll post the step-by-step process once I'm done.

[Ritzy1]

Originally Posted by Charlie ny

A super quality build........all the more impressive since the body and frame never parted

company. I love my stone and gravel driveway out here in the sticks, the drips just disappear.
Charlie

You're so kind to say that. Thank you. Look forward to getting down your way at some point to have you check my tune-up.

[Ritzy1]

Originally Posted by whizzernick

I am the person who makes the diaper for fords ( see ) my posts.
I have made around 100 so far no complaints . I also make one for the rearend ( they sometimes leak ) My price is $ 50 includes shipping. I also make it long so as it goes under and to the back of transmission. MY DIAPERS DO NOT BLOW OFF

I KNOW ( from the post now and when I brought it up last time ) most of you prefer to leave the mess--- use cardboard--- like you ford as henry built it --
or just ignore the fact that our fords were designed to leak.

I did steal your idea. I'm sure mine is nowhere as nice as yours though.

Thanks.

[Ritzy1]

Originally Posted by RKS.PA

Dave, know this is not about the "diaper", but do you think redoing the rear mail seal and rear cork pan gasket might solve the leak?

You can remove the pan...easier on your brother's lift....with the engine in the car. Maybe cut the lower half of a new 3/8" rope seal 1/8" proud with a dollop or black RTV on each edge and re-install? Guessing you used the one piece neoprene seal in the front?

Did this on the 59 AB in my '39 after not doing this at the time I rebuilt the engine. It never leaked after. Just did this on my '47 and am praying it stays dry....good so far, but haven't run it enough yet!! And, yes I know these engines all leaked, even from the factory!! So, if my last attempt fails, I'm prepared to live with it!!

Really enjoyed following along with your HAMB postings....beautiful work and photo documentary!!

Best of luck....Dick.

This thing only has about 2,000 miles on it. I did my best to seal it up as best I could using all of the advice I could glean from various experts. I'm guessing it's that knife edge on the pan that goes up against that cork gasket in the rear main. It was really hard to keep it in place when I was putting the pan on, even with RTV.

[Jack E/NJ]

>>> I'm guessing it's that knife edge on the pan that goes up against that cork gasket>>>


Yep, I wound up having to glue a cut neoprene ring from a used spin-on filter instead of the rubberized cork. Cork just wouldn't stay in place. Jack E/NJ

[JimG]

I have been using one of Whizzernick's diapers for 3 years. It has stayed on even at highway speeds. I put some pigmats in it in the spring and change them out in the fall. It has worked OK for me.

[mfirth]

Just remember this; flatheads do not leak, they mark their territory........keep smile'n

[whizzernick]

Just to clear up something (No one so far is willing to admit that ) Ford V-8 motors that have a slinger rear main. ( model A too ? ) LEAK OIL --- that is what the cotterpin in the rear of the oil pan is for ( to keep the hole open so oil can leak out ) Just for fun I will tell a little story. Around the time I was working on the diaper. I asked Jerry Lew

long time member of Golden Gate chapter #1 of the Early Ford V-8 Club ( Jerry has only late 49-53 Fords and Mercurys ) If his cars leak ---- he told me they do ..
Also take a look at most parking spots . It looks like not only Early Fords leak but a lot of cars leak. I am not getting rich with my diaper but I am keeping a lot of garage floors oil free.

[billfish]

This is my version of the diaper fix. For that normal annoying drip from the bottom of the bell housing where some cars have a cotter pin. Just double up a piece of old towel wrap it around as shown in picture and bolt thru with the existing bolts. Depending on how much you drive change it once a year.

[tubman]

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I would disagree with anyone who says that properly assembled 8BA's leak.

[Ritzy1]

Just an update. Have a couple hundred miles on it now and it's stayed in place even after highway speeds over 70. No more oil leaks on the driveway. Now, to resolve that coolant leak . . .

[philipswanson]

A drip pan is a whole lot easier!

[JayChicago]

Or a piece cardboard on the floor. Sure is easy to change. My wife has Amazon delivering fresh cardboard for me all the time.

But when I need to park on my concrete driveway, I do have a problem. I get a piece of cardboard under there, but I live in the windy city, some days it won't stay put.

[whizzernick]

buy a diaper . $50 (includes shipping )

[randy993]

I have used a cookie sheet over the years on different vehicles. Just deep enough for an absorbent pad. Drill holes and zip tie where needed.

[Ritzy1]

For me, here's why Wizzernick's diaper idea was a good one: I don't have a garage, and I have a new driveway that I don't want to ruin. I bought a nice big new drip pan, but the wind would blow it around and it would fill with water, leaves, pine needles, etc., so it is a pain to maintain. An absorbent pad would never stay in the drip pan.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by tubman

I would disagree with anyone who says that properly assembled 8BA's leak.

To me, the question is: How long will a properly assembled 8BA run before it starts leaking and becomes a grimy mess underneath? I was around and under a lot of used flatheads in the '50's and it seems like none were clean underneath.
I assumed that the factory assembled them properly, but they soon began leaking. I think we're spoiled these days. A late model vehicle can have 200,000 miles on it and still be dry underneath.