Oil leak behind the cam

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Righty Tighty

Righty Tighty

Blame it on the dog
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Hello folks, I’m priming my 318LA before dropping it in, and there’s a pretty substantial oil leak coming from the rear of the cam. There’s also no oil reaching the rockers. All plugs are in lace that I can see, I’m heading to go get a pressure gauge to see where I’m at regarding oil pressure.
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What is wrong?
 
Yes exactly like a freeze plug and installs the same way
 
like they said your missing the cam plug, you will have to turn the engine over by hand while priming to oil the rockers. they do not receive oil at all times.
 
Thanks everyone. Luckily I saved the “extras” from the plug kit, and found this guy. I think this is what I need.
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I’ve been turning the crank about 1/4 revolution at a time and priming, still nothing. Is it necessary to turn the crank *while* priming? I’ll need another 12 pack to bribe a friend for that.
 
put that puppy in bulge out and then smack the center with a ball end of a hammer, that will slightly expand it and seat it. Wow...
I've seen them put in concave and then RTV'd as they wont seal that direction. Just lack of understanding the way those work.
 
Righty Tighty said:
Thanks everyone. Luckily I saved the “extras” from the plug kit, and found this guy. I think this is what I need.
View attachment 1715526224

I’ve been turning the crank about 1/4 revolution at a time and priming, still nothing. Is it necessary to turn the crank *while* priming? I’ll need another 12 pack to bribe a friend for that.
Click to expand...
Test fit the plug just to make sure it's the right one. If it doesn't slip in the cavity don't force it yet. Clean the cavity with brake clean and dry the cavity. I used silicone sealer around the the of the plug. install it with the dish outward and use the ball end of a ball peen hammer (and hit the other eng with another hammer) or use a 1/2" extension to dent the center and expand the plug. Make sure you let it sit a while or overnight so the sealer sets up. Someone may chime in with a different process but the outcome is the same.
 
careful hitting a hammer with another! Both are hardened and may chip, sending a fragment in any direction. I typically use a 3/8 socket extension so I can center it and then smack it.
 
toolmanmike said:
Test fit the plug just to make sure it's the right one. If it doesn't slip in the cavity don't force it yet. Clean the cavity with brake clean and dry the cavity. I used silicone sealer around the the of the plug. install it with the dish outward and use the ball end of a ball peen hammer (and hit the other eng with another hammer) or use a 1/2" extension to dent the center and expand the plug. Make sure you let it sit a while or overnight so the sealer sets up. Someone may chime in with a different process but the outcome is the same.
Click to expand...
I test fit it, felt like a good snug interference fit. Tapped it lightly just to seat it, and then hit the center with a large diameter punch. (I did that before reading your suggestion on the peen hammer) Seems to be damn snug. I put a small bead of RTV around the perimeter, so now I guess it’s Miller time while I wait for it to cure!
 
Sh
Righty Tighty said:
I test fit it, felt like a good snug interference fit. Tapped it lightly just to seat it, and then hit the center with a large diameter punch. (I did that before reading your suggestion on the peen hammer) Seems to be damn snug. I put a small bead of RTV around the perimeter, so now I guess it’s Miller time while I wait for it to cure!
Click to expand...
Show us a picture.
 
toolmanmike said:
Looks like that should work! Enjoy your beer!
Click to expand...
Cheers!

By the way, I really appreciate that the folks here care enough to actually want to see proof a job was done right. it’s my car, not anyone else’s, but you all are so invested in teaching and helping, and it shows. Hopefully someday I get to pass along the knowledge I’ve gained here.
 
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Hang on a sec; you see that bag of pipe plugs? Any chance they also are "extras",lol? You know that at least a couple of them belongs inside the engine, right?
And missing them will cause catastrophic engine failure.
And don't forget the tiny cup plug that goes up into the galley from the bottom of the engine to seperate the oil into two paths; the first is to the filter and the second takes filtered oil into the rest of the system. If not there, your oil will not get filtered. I can just barely see the cup plug in the bag..........
And there is another plug in the cavity behind the oil filter, don't forget that one,lol.
 
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Righty
ever visit that big outlet mall on the Havasupi reservation off the 10?

do you have all the "hidden" plugs in
perhaps someone can post a link for "get it done Righty"
 
AJ/FormS said:
View attachment 1715526294
Hang on a sec; you see that bag of pipe plugs? Any chance they also are "extras",lol? You know that at least a couple of them belongs inside the engine, right?
And missing them will cause catastrophic engine failure.
And don't forget the tiny cup plug that goes up into the galley from the bottom of the engine to seperate the oil into two paths; the first is to the filter and the second takes filtered oil into the rest of the system. If not there, your oil will not get filtered. I can just barely see the cup plug in the bag..........
And there is another plug in the cavity behind the oil filter, don't forget that one,lol.
Click to expand...

If this makes any sense, I sent the block off to get honed, and the machine shop removed the cam and replaced the bearings. When I got it back, I replaced the core plugs one by one as I removed them. I think he removed the rear cam plug, and since I didn't remove it, I didn't think (or know) to replace it. All the other pipe pugs that were previously in the block seemed pretty sound, so I didn't mess with them, and that's how I ended up being okay with so many "extra" pipe plugs.

Now, regarding this tiny cup plug, I'll try to reference my service manual to make sure it's one I already left in place, but I don't think the machine shop would've removed it.
 
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You see those horizontal "tubes" going off to the oil filter? and you see the vertical one that they intersect? In the space on the vertical, and between the two horizontals; is where the cup plug goes.
If the plug gets left out, the oil doesn't get filtered.
If a second plug is installed, it will very nearly block the passage. It will probably read normal at idle, but as the revs increase there will be insufficient oil delivery.
As the contractor, foreman, and lead hand , of the project, it is on you to make sure it gets assembled right. Unless your father assembled it, trust no one; especially not your machine shop cuz they already IMO, screwed up by not replacing the plug that they took out.
 
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