Well, after two solid days at my buddies shop, getting the headliner done, safety on the car and other odds & ends, the car made it maiden voyage, totalling about 6-7 miles. I was really tired by the time i got on the road, so it wasn't as exciting as it could have been.

The car ran well, kept a constant temp of 190 right on the nose, and was actually alot louder than I thought it would be:o:D! My NOS Sun Super Tach decided to quit again, so it may be in need of a resto.

The problem came in that the oil pan developed a leak around the dipstick tube braket that mounts on the side of the pan. Sooooooo, my underside got an unofficial rust proofing courtesy of an oil bath. It was everywhere, what a freakin' mess. On my headers, on the tranny, on the exhaust, the mufflers. Jeeeezzzzzzzzz.........:(

Yes, I got it all cleaned, but now I have to seal up that braket so this doesn't repeat itself.

Fun, fun, fun.

Not.

Dan,
Congrats on the maiden voyage but poop from the resultant oil leak. Isn't amazing how and where oil can get to when you're driving down the road? Now, more importantly, will we see you and this car in July on Grand Island? Hope so!

Dan...all in all sounds like a good test run....What a pain it has to be to clean things up......I was just pondering that same sort of deal with my power steering hose deciding it want to become a sieve or filter....Glad you got things cleaned up...............:thumbsup:

Well actually I winterized mine when I left my radiator cap loose to allow it to burp.....It was like a volcano.....the cap shot up and dropped right into the fan....I heard it trying to digest it....then ting....out it shot out. I just knew I needed another Alumitech......Not a mark on anything, not even the repo cap.....But that 5 blade fan turned the antifreeze into a spray.....:clonk:
6 hours later it was cleaner than before....dang dust

Well Dan, it seems these things are often two steps forward and then one step back. Glad to hear it ran well. Good luck with the oil fix.

Dan,
Congrats on the maiden voyage but poop from the resultant oil leak. Isn't amazing how and where oil can get to when you're driving down the road? Now, more importantly, will we see you and this car in July on Grand Island? Hope so!

No Duke, unfortunately not. Still have to arrange a cut/polish for the car, as well as still waiting for my seatbelts from Ssnake-oyl. Too much of a crunch. I'm going to try and make Stratford in September.

Mine had that happen with my oil pan gasket in the rear lip. I would leak real bad and I just kept on driving until I had the money to park it and work on it. Lets just say there is a HEFTY coat on my headers and underbody. Oh and my M22 is very well lubricated.

:cool: Very good to hear you got it on the road Dan. :thumbsup: Leaks are bound to happen. :yes: When are you racing Don??? :D

:cool: Very good to hear you got it on the road Dan. :thumbsup: Leaks are bound to happen. :yes: When are you racing Don??? :D

I suppose I'll have to track him down and maybe pay for his gas:)

I suppose I'll have to track him down and maybe pay for his gas:)

John and Dan - not to worry, as I consistantly get beat by Grannies driving Gremlins (at least according to a few dudes on this board) :eek: :eek: :eek:

John and Dan - not to worry, as I consistantly get beat by Grannies driving Gremlins (at least according to a few dudes on this board) :eek: :eek: :eek:

Not to worry Don, I'm now officially afraid to even start mine up after yesterday's debacle:sad:, so you win via forfeit;)!

It wouldn't be a REAL Chevelle without an oil leak of some sort. I did the valve cover and intake gaskets on ours this spring and I think there is still a little oil coming from somewhere else. Having seen pictures of the work that you have put into it, I can really sympathize. I guess this is why they never drive big dollar show cars.

John and Dan - not to worry, as I consistantly get beat by Grannies driving Gremlins (at least according to a few dudes on this board) :eek: :eek: :eek:
LOL.. You too, must be a Le Mans blue thing. :D :thumbsup:

Just to update, I've sealed around the dipstick tube bracket with a healthy dose of Ultra Copper ( good for high temps ). I'm hoping to fire it up tomorrow and see what happens. There appeared to be no eveidence of oil coming form around the base of the dipstick tube itself, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

If this holds OK, I'll leave it for a couple of years, then yank the motor, rip off the pan and have it tig welded. If it doesn't work, well, I'll wait a couple of days, yada yada yada.

( Also thinking of different mufflers for next year, these Magnaflow's are freakin' LOUD. Spectacular at idle, but when I get on it, holy crap...... )

I guess this is why they never drive big dollar show cars.

And I now have an even healthier respect for those cars, not that I didn't before.

( Also thinking of different mufflers for next year, these Magnaflow's are freakin' LOUD. Spectacular at idle, but when I get on it, holy crap...... )
thats great, don't pee in your pants though. I bought the Milodon dipstick and tube, stainless steel, no leaks. Big block.http://www.jegs.com/i/Milodon/697/22010/10002/-1

Great looking car Dan! Don't sweat the small stuff. When I first fired up my 69SS ( same as yours without the vinyl roof), for cam break in, the right header melted the oil pressure sending line and started an oil fire in my engine bay. Good thing I always keep an extinguisher nearby.

Well, took the car out for a drive last night, and I think I misdiagnosed my leak. It appears to indeed be coming from the dipstick tube itself. The mounting bracket is off just oh so slightly from the factory location, causing the tube to enter on an angle, creating a gap on one side of the tube. I pulled the tube, cleaned it up, and loaded it up with Ultra Copper, and re-installed. The excess got pushed out the top of the entry port for the tube, which I then wiped off. I'll wait till tomorrow, and fire it up for another test run.

If that fails, I'll go with an aftermarket dipstick tube.

Well, took the car out for a drive last night, and I think I misdiagnosed my leak. It appears to indeed be coming from the dipstick tube itself. The mounting bracket is off just oh so slightly from the factory location, causing the tube to enter on an angle, creating a gap on one side of the tube. I pulled the tube, cleaned it up, and loaded it up with Ultra Copper, and re-installed. The excess got pushed out the top of the entry port for the tube, which I then wiped off. I'll wait till tomorrow, and fire it up for another test run.

If that fails, I'll go with an aftermarket dipstick tube.
I had a similar problem and used an o ring at the base of the tube, solved my problem. Have you tried any high temp silicone, something other than the ultra copper?

I had a similar problem and used an o ring at the base of the tube, solved my problem. Have you tried any high temp silicone, something other than the ultra copper?

Nope, this is my first try with anything of this nature.

I've used these Flo Pro mufflers on both our L78 396 and our 455 Lemans. They aren't as loud as Flowmasters and there has been none of that irritating drone that you get with some mufflers. We had them installed on our Chevelle in '98 so they appear to be quite durable as well. http://www.flopro.com/FPovalbig.htm

Dan,

Yup, I thought my dipstick tube was leaking. I loaded it up with RTV. Didn't do it. Sad to say, seems the pan re-enforce/mount may have a crack behind it somewhere.

edit: Maybe try the RTV one more time....before more radical attempts.

I went from the 14" case to 18" case MagnaFlows last week, 2.5" system. Around town with 3.42 gears, it was noticeably quieter. At moderate freeway speeds of 55-60, still better than before. At 65-70, really no difference....pretty darn loud in the vehicle.

edit: OH, I lost my PS pressure line on my maiden voyage! I got two houses down and I had a spray all over the driver side....and onto the hot header! very effective smoke screen stuff!

Dan, I use a bead of the black around the base of the tube where it meets the pan and it seals every time. :yes:

I am sure the Ultra Copper will work fine also. :yes:

http://www.permatex.com/products/Automotive/automotive_gasketing/gasket_makers/auto_Permatex_Ultra_Black_Maximum_Oil_Resistance_R TV_Silicone_Gasket_Maker.htm

http://www.permatex.com/images/DisplayImage.asp?210|/images/ProductPhotos/82180.jpg

Dan,

Sad to say, seems the pan re-enforce/mount may have a crack behind it somewhere.

I went from the 14" case to 18" case MagnaFlows last week, 2.5" system. Around town with 3.42 gears, it was noticeably quieter. At moderate freeway speeds of 55-60, still better than before. At 65-70, really no difference....pretty darn loud in the vehicle.

I've already sealed around the mounting area, it's good.

I have 18" Maganaflows right now. Who knows, maybe I'm just getting older.:D

Dan,

The drive from Lakewood which is just South of Tacoma, to Hoss's on the north side of Arlington takes nearly two hours. Much depends on what time you pass through Seattle. OMG, bad traffic on the way back home.....
Quieter pipes are a must!
Going OD trans will make this very sane..

Amen to OD transmission reducing cruise noise factor :thumbsup:

Update:

Took the car out for a short drive today after sealing the dipstick tube, and all was OK, no mess. Hopefully the repair holds well.

You couldn't expect no issues....not good luck to have nothing bother ya on the maiden voyage.
Nice looking build, luv silver/black vinyl.
Bring her out to the Georgetown show sometime.
If not.

Hope to "seeee youuuuu .....in September". Gotta get on the Canam site and see what's up lately.

You couldn't expect no issues....not good luck to have nothing bother ya on the maiden voyage.


I'm allowed to dream, aren't I?:p:D

This thread is useless without pics..... come on, let's see some pics of that bad boy on the road!!!!!

FWIW, I use 2 o-rings on the engine tube and trans tube, to have belt and suspenders protection.

This thread is useless without pics..... come on, let's see some pics of that bad boy on the road!!!!!

Well, I could smear some oil all over the underneath and that would be relative to the thread!

Had the car out today, and the oil is trickling out, just a little. So, back we go with more sealant.