Leaking oil under the distributor?

Tiny
KIROW
  • MEMBER
  • 1967 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 63,954 MILES
I bought this as a project car to work on and have just gotten it to start. But when the engine is running pressurized oil come shooting out of somewhere under the distributor. We thought it was from the distributor shaft itself but that seems unlikely. The new suspect is a bolt and hose just under. The hose from the diagram we have found should go to the carburetor. But instead, the hose ends three inches from the bolt that we think is leaking oil. We need to figure out if this is actually where the oil is coming from. And how to stop it.
Saturday, October 15th, 2022 AT 11:02 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,179 POSTS
Hi,

Which engine is this? Also, I'm not sure which bolt you are referring to. Are you sure the O-ring on the distributor isn't bad? Also, based on the engine size, the oil-sending unit should be near where I see oil. One last question. I noticed a bolt missing. Is that from the distributor hold down?

I circled the missing bolt in blue, and can you let me know what I circled in red? I remember people would use adapters for the oil pressure switch so they could run a mechanical oil pressure gauge.

Let me know.

Joe

See pic below.
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Saturday, October 15th, 2022 AT 10:54 PM
Tiny
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We somehow didn't even see that hole circled in blue. That's probably exactly where the oil is coming from. Would just a plug work for that or would something need to go there? We have also replaced the O-ring on the distributor and ruled out that possibility

The engine is a small block Chevrolet but outside of that I have no idea. For what's circled in red. We initially thought it was a kick down cable, but it seems to be something left over from whoever worked on this car before and no longer serves a function.
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Sunday, October 16th, 2022 AT 11:21 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi,

Your second pic is the kick-down. It should be attached unless it was replaced.

As far as the opening I mentioned, is it threaded? If it is, plug it to see if that was the leak. If it isn't threaded, let me know.

If it's a small block and original, it is likely a 327 but could be a 283. I know the 327 would make me happy. LOL However, with the Mopar air cleaner, a 426 would make me even happier. LOL

Anyway, let me know. I am going to ask the site owner if he recognizes what goes in that spot. He has a history of building engines.

Take care.

Joe
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Sunday, October 16th, 2022 AT 8:06 PM
Tiny
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Thanks for your help so far, will be out of state for the next two weeks so I can't work on it till then. I'll keep you updated once I get back to it.
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Wednesday, October 19th, 2022 AT 12:09 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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You are very welcome. I look forward to hearing from you when you return.

Take care,

Joe
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Wednesday, October 19th, 2022 AT 5:48 PM

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