So working on the cursed 55 Chevy Handyman Wagon. Its definitely possessed.
So a couple of weeks ago, I decide to swap out the headers for rams horns. The headers just didn't fit right and the engine compartment was crowded. Then I ditched the flex fan for a spal electric. Moved the alternator to the passenger side with an Alan grove bracket. Everything lined up nicely, more room under the hood and everything looks cleaner. Even installed a winters shifter which is far better than the vague column shift.
So,
Started it up last week and noticed oil under the motor. It looked like the Exxon Valdez. hmm I say. So I go around and tighten everything that I could. Clean up the spill and start her up. It looks like the Valdez again.
This is a drivers side issue. Hmm again.
Pulled the valve cover and resealed and started her up. Ran for a few minutes. Oil again. So I pull the rear carb and start looking around. Distributor dry. Valve cover dry. Intake dry. Oil galley and gauge feed fitting dry. Little puddle of oil on the clock casting at back of block, running down bellhousing and dripping off block at the corner by old filter.
Its a lot of oil quickly, relatively speaking so that was telling me it was under pressure but the oil galley to gauge was dry. At this point I am getting a bad feeling about this.
So I get a dye pack and an infrared, clean the block, reinstall carb, add the dye and start her up. Run her for ten minutes and start looking. Distributor still dry. Valve covers dry. Oil feed dry and then.....
I see the old pooling on the plug that blocks the oil galley under the head near the corner of the intake. Are you frigging kidding me? I had my machine shop I have used for years do the block fully including plugs and cam bearings and it looks like a plug leak. Great.
I built the motor, so any kind of warranty work is an impossibility. I doubt they will claim responsibility in any way. Just the way that goes.
So unless you guys have an answer it looks like:
Pull carbs
pull manifold
and horns
and heads
and hair out
and new head gaskets and fix galley and
more $$$$$$$$$ in this cursed 55 chevy.
Starting to hate this car. Actually I already hate it. If someone showed up with $17k I would take my $10k loss and walk away.
I have easily $3500+ in the small block in that car which has fought me for months and in the meantime I threw together an SBC for my 73 chevelle based on a craigslist $250 long block and a bunch of leftovers. Runs like a top with great oil pressure.
O guess I am pretty well pulling the top end? I guess I pull that plug, reseal and stake the damn thing.
Oh and the temp sender for the spal fan leaks incessantly as well, but thats a leak for another day.
S