VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 '32 engine parts

What is a good source for '32 engine parts, such as seals, gaskets, rod shims, bearings, crank seals, bearins, etc...

Thanks,
Jim V.

There are no crank seals (front or rear main bearing seals). For the engine gaskets you can get those from the Filling Station. On the shims try either Mooney's in Texas or Obsolete Chevrolet in Nashville, Georgia.

If there is no main seal what causes the leak out the rear?

Several things: Your valve cover gasket might be leaking on the back of the head, the ball check valve in the rear main bearing cap might be stuck in the "up" position, excessive clearance on the crankshaft oil slinger and etc.

I checked the valve cover gasket and it is okay. I have not checked the ball check valve as I do not have another oil pan gasket, yet. Same for the oil slinger. If the ball or the slinger is the problem, where does it leak out, the rear of the oil pan or ???

It will leak out at the rear of the main bearing area. :( :( :(

How bad is the leak?

Most often the leaks from the back of the engine are caused by excessive gap in the rear main bearing. Since the '32 feeds oil directly from the pump to the main bearings if the gap is too wide more oil is fed to the back side of the bearing than can be drained through the hole in the groove into the oil pan. It then flows out the back of the rear bearing cap. It is rare for the ball to be stuck but it can happen.

Chippy Dippy is correct, but I have talked to several dudes that did have the ball check stuck in the "Up" position. As the Chipper stated, it doesn't happen very often though. When it does happen however, you have a major leak on the garage floor. :eek: :eek: :eek:

This is a major leak, like about a six inch circle on the floor in a short order. How can you tell if the check ball is stuck and if it is, how is the best way to unstick it. How easy is it to check the main bearing clearance and what is the best way.

This started suddenly a couple of days ago. This engine had not run in about 3 years.

To check the ball you have to remove the oil pan. On the front part of the main bearing cap you will see a hole with a vertical pin in place. The pin is what keeps the ball in inside of the main bearing cap. If the ball is down against the pin it is in its correct location. If the ball is up in the tapered hole then it is blocking the return oil flow. Those that I have talked to that experienced this problem removed the vertical pin and the ball and their leaks stopped.

If the ball is stuck how do you get it out?? I know these are dumb questions, but they must be asked.

Oh, I bet you remove the main bearing cap and knock the ball out.

Remove the rear main bearing cap and then push the ball down from the top of the hole.

Thanks to both of you for the info. I will get a gasket and then proceed to remove the oil pan and see what is going on. I will report back after that and let you know what I find and if I need further info or not.

Gots to go, it is late here in Michigan.

Thanks again.

A blast of air will normally move the ball. Then cleand the cap with a good solvent. Wal-Mart carb cleaner is inexpensive and works well if you don't have a parts washer.

To remove the ball it is necessary to either cut the pin flush with the bore in the cap or remove the bearing shell and then with needle nose pliers push up the pin until you can grab it and take it out. If the bearing tolerance is correct and the ball is free there is absolutely no reason to remove it.

Assuming that the ball is stuck, is it best to just remove it and leave it out, or remove it and clean the bore and reinstall it.

What part of Texas are you from. I was born and raised in Sherman.

That would be up to you, however, those fellows that did find that the ball was stuck in the "up" position removed same, and they had no further problems. But, if the ball is free then I would leave it in place.

on the engines that i have had this problem i found excess bearing clearance and the ball is put in for a purpose it is a check valve to keep the oil in the pan from running out the rear main bearing when on a steep incline if you are running the engine on a steep upward incline the ball shuts the excess oil has to leak out the rear main . on most chevys of this area it is common to see a little drip especilly when you shut the engine off and if you are useing heavy oil . most people say if you dont see a drip you need to check the oil level . now i know that some are going to say mine dont drip and it is possible if every thing is correct but usualy you can tell where the chevys park so what im trying to say is if it did not leak before you may need to get it out and warm it up hope this helps pushrod

pushrod, my problem is the leak is not a little. It is a big puddle and on level ground.

If I am reading this string correctly it will not hurt the engine if I leave the ball out of the engine. Is this correct? :confused:

I don't plan on driving on any steep inclines here in Florida.

Yes, that is correct.

Does anyone have the check ball and the retaining wire that has been discussed in this topic. If so,
I would be greatly interested in obtaining the ball and retaining wire.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Is your check ball missing? Thought that you mentioned that it was there? If it is missing you don't need to replace it.

It is missing, I never had it. It was missing when I removed the oilpan. I would like to have the ball and the wire that held it in place. :( :( :(