I was just wondering if this is something "wrong" (but not major) with my driveline. The oil pan and trans are always covered in a thin grimy oil or trans fluid film, and so is the crossmember, speedo cable, etc.
Is this just normal for a car that sees some street miles? Or should it be dry as the desert down there?

Just a little like poll thing.. never once on any rebuild of anything has there not been some sort of fluid film for me..

matt

Matt,

When you look at the design of the mating surfaces, the seals, etc-etc it would seem that keeping ALL the fluids and fumes inside one of these old engines was an afterthought - a mear suggestion.

Mine is pretty dry but I do have to towel off the bottom of the oil pan at oil changes. Some are better, some are worse. Nature of the old beasts.

Dan

Both of my chevelles are this way. Fluids will always seep out on cars that are driven, there is no way around it. I am constantly wiping off the chassis of my 70.

I have the same problem with my 70 El Camino SS 396 and my 71 Buick GS convert. with the 350 motor. The GM motors had a notorious problem with the rear oil seal leaking as they were made of a rope type material. You can convert them to a 2 piece neoprene seal but you have to cut part of it down. I also have a consistant leak coming from the speedo gear where the cable goes in. I have replaced the seal twice now and just deal with wiping it off. It might be the fact that the plastic speedo gear has a grove worn in it in which case, time for a new speedo gear. Anyway, if you drive your cars, you are always going to have to wipe them down on the undercarriage regardless of if it is a trailer queen or not.

Keeps my frame from rotting out, especially with the Jersey salt in the winter! :D

Malibujerry,

Thats why I dont drive mine in the winter and it gets mothballed till dry sunny weather :D

Got the same problem! I think my oil pan seeps oil from the rear. Also, I think my trans has a seal leak. The oil pan I bought (Summit Racing house brand) is not level by any stretch of the imagination. Horrible quality. But I still used it, with a one-piece pan gasket. Been throwing off the oil film for 6 years now. Kind of a drag, but I'm too lazy to pull the motor and throw the oil pan in the thrash smile.gif . I detail the underbody every few months, so it's not a huge problem.

I wouldn't worry about it unless you find your oil level or trans fluid level going down significantly. The rear main in my '68 is getting to that point - it does a good job ensuring that my flexplate will never rust, or my garage floor for that matter . . .