VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 front oil drip

my 32 engine has about two hours running time since it was rebuilt by "a reliable professional" in New York State. it runs very strong with the plug and timing changes recommended, but now it has developed an impressive front oil drip after running for 20 minutes or longer. I assume it is the timing gear cover loading up because the drain passage is plugged. Do I have to pull the timing gear cover or can I just pull the pan and drop the lower half front main? does the engine have to be raised to release the front main?? what else should I ask but don't know enough to??

Hello baconfederate,
Are you able to verify from where the oil is leaking? Is it coming out of the seal area (worn seal) where the crankshaft passes through the timing cover? I'm just guessing here, but does the engine use an oil slinger on the crankshaft and maybe it could be missing, or installed backwards? I would think that if the drain passage is plugged, there would be a large amount of oil pooled in the timing cover and valve cover areas and a low oil reading on the oil dipstick. If the oil pan and valve cover are removed, you could pour oil and verify that the drain passage is plugged or open. An engine repair manual should have a schematic view of the oil system and associated components. Also look for a torn timing cover gasket and maybe timing cover bolts leaking (wrong bolts). Maybe the front of the oil pan is leaking and not the timing cover area. Let us know what you find.

Thanks much for your ideas, I hadn't thought of the other problems you mentioned.. my next step is to put her on the ramps, and run her with me under. haven't done that stuff in decades...

There is no seal in the cover and if all things are proper it should not leak oil.
The slinger is behind the balancer and throws off the oil preventing it from leaking at the balancer.
The oil returns through the block and not the fron main bearing cap as it does on a 216.
The most common cause for a leak at the location is the front main gearing has too much clearance and and an excessive amount of oil passes through the front of the bearing and fills the timing cover.
The pan drops right straight down so is no big problem. It would be necessary to remove the balancer to see if the slinger is in place.

As Chev Nut mentioned no seal is used in the 1932 timing cover. The area around the balancer is open.

There is no seal.