Found at last!

Tony Radford · #1 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 11:29 AM

Finally, I hit it lucky and found a pesky oil leak that has plagued me for over a year. The problem followed my retrofit to a new engine. There is a hair-line crack in a weld at the bottom of my Canton oil pan. It looked like the oil was merely accumulating at this seam from a leak elswhere on the engine. I got the car on a lift this morning and with several sets of eyes scouring the underside of the new engine, it was discovered it was the pan all along. This is a good day!

SpitzSpitz · #2 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 11:49 AM

ALL RIGHT!!!! huh, oh I thought you found a cobra in a barn!!!

Spitz

ToyCollector · #3 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 12:10 PM

Great news Tony. Now what are you going to do, repair or replace?

trularin · #4 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 12:40 PM

That is sooooooooooooo strange.

I have what looks like a small oil "accumulation" on my Canton.

Is it along the bottom?

Have you talked to canton about this?

I have been wiping the oil off and living with it.

Let me know what they say.

Thanks!

Tony Radford · #5 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 01:18 PM

Trularin, the crack is the bottom seam on the back edge of the pan, closest to the bell housing. The only way we could tell that it was leaking was to wipe it away and watch a re-accumulation over a 5-10 minute period. Very subtle. Since the pan is four years old and has been plated, I doubt they will do anything.

TC, I'm really not sure what I'll do. After dropping a wad on the new engine, I'm a bit reluctant to dive into another $300 expense. I'm going to rub some silicone on it in hopes it will be a temporary fix. I spoke to Bill earlier and of course he'll do what ever I want. Unfortunately, he doesn't have any used pans around. He thinks that Canton may offer some credit. My biggest issue is with the down time. Pulling my pan, attempting a reweld, replating it and having it reinstalled a week or two later is less than palatable right now. After the dust settles, I may just order a new pan, have it plated and ready for install during a future service check.

No Spitz, I found the oil pan in a barn. Specifically, they were using it to water the chickens. It was too good a deal to pass up. The original Cobra (a 1965 I believe) had already been traded for a bush hog and ended up in a flea market in Tijuana where it was converted into a taxi by ripping off the body and replacing it with the body off a Yugo sedan. I hear it's still in service.

SpitzSpitz · #6 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 01:25 PM

Tony thats great

you are a funny man.

actually I would be happy if I could find my oil leak in my FE, unfortunately I believe it leaks everywhere!!!!! I mean marks its spot from everywhere. I guess I will live with it.

Spitz

Tony Radford · #7 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 02:10 PM

Spitz, the mechanic who was helping find the leak source this morning had a pretty wise comment. He said the only way to keep a car like this from leaking is not to put any fluids in it. He said to drive it, enjoy it and keep a rag hand. You know he's right.

SpitzSpitz · #8 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 02:43 PM

I Know he is right, I park mine on a car pad and empty the pad ever so often. Is empty the right word?

Spitz

Cracker · #9 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 02:45 PM

Don't worry about the down time Tony, if you can't get your car back up and going by the 7th drag event I'll loan you my '76 2002 BMW.

Actually, the real dissapointment for you will be discovering that the only reason your motor spun it's tires is because of the added lubrication it was dripping!

Alex Donghi · #10 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 02:51 PM

Tony
Is the crack around a bolt head?? Don't try silicone I dont think it will work. You'll never get all the oil off the metal to get it to stick. Try JB Weld.

BigEasy · #11 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 06:10 PM

Tony;

Just think of it as a British car---my E-type marks it's territory every where I go....

A few drops is "acceptable".

BigEasy
Charlie

Tony Radford · #12 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 07:08 PM

Charlie, I wouldn't mind a "drop". Alex, it's leaking through a seam. Bill said I would have to drain the oil to use JB weld as it won't stick to an oily surface. I guess the right move is to go ahead an order a new pan.

Dave Crace · #13 (**permalink**) 10-29-2003, 05:44 AM

Tony,
I have the same problem with my Aviad. It was leaking in one of the lower weld seams. Temporarily fixed with JB weld, but S/A is sending a new Aviad to replace. The JB weld will stop the leak, but for how long I don't know.

Tony Radford · #14 (**permalink**) 10-29-2003, 06:43 AM

Tony, did you drain the oil before you applied the JB Weld?

Dave Crace · #15 (**permalink**) 10-29-2003, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tony Radford

Tony, did you drain the oil before you applied the JB Weld?

Uh-oh Tony is talking to himself now

Yes you should drain the oil first.

rsnell · #16 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 08:41 AM

Man of Man, that Tony can really start something with his problems! Tony, get out the TIG welder and have at it! Even from the outside, a welder would close up the crack.

Alex, remember me? We discussed the four post lifts with you? Any interest yet? I now carry a less expensive, but still quite capable lift from Direct-Lift, along with the Stinger models.

See all of you guys on the 7th here at the track! You should come up tomorrow (Halloween night) and see the crazies racing in costumes!

Ron

Tony Radford · #17 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 11:15 AM

Sorry Dave, got you confused with Mr. Hull. Canton agreed to fix the pan for free and Bill is loaning me a new one in the interim. I'm planning on going down there to pick it up tomorrow.

Ron, I don't TIG. Being an ex-ironworker, I can take a stick to it. Only problem is that it would take a whole roll of duct tape to fix the new hole I would make during the repair process.

Cracker · #18 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 12:10 PM

"Sorry Dave, got you confused with Mr. Hull. "

Let's see:
I'm tall he's short.

We both pack. (guns that is).

We both have 427's.

He's ugly and I'm not!

How could you confuse us!

I forgot one, he's rich and I'm not; however, my son is named Rich so for whatever that's worth. Just remember, good advice = Alex, just advice = Mr. Hull.