Thread: oil leak by sender

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Fired up the pro-built '65 327 last week and had a serious oil leak in the vicinity of the pressure sender port at the back of the intake manifold. Removed the sender, replaced the fittings etc and still had oil coming out under pressure right where the LH head, block and rear of the manifold meet. Pulled the manifold and the silicone bead end seal looked great. That's when I noticed the hole in the block deck, mostly covered by the head, which was filled with either Permatex or chewing gum. Called the engine builder (Bowtie Motors in Sumner WA) and was told this was a very rare occurence and that they had indeed put a new plug in this galley hole. So tonight pulled the head and cleaned out the hole - no threads, just a metal plug down about 3/8" - and no obvious sign of leaking.

Anybody else out there had similar problems? The engine builder suggested I melt brass into it, but that didn't stick. Ended up filling it mostly with lead solder and topping it off with JB Weld. Think that will work??? Or should I pull the motor (again) and take it back to the builder for a proper fix?

Must be an early block for that sounds like the hole for the road draft tube. I think I would have the engine builder fix it.

The road draft tube hole is about 1 1/4" and on top of the block just behind the distributer. This hole is about 1/2" on the LH head surface of the block, at the upper rt corner as you look at the head. It was mostly covered by the head but there is no corresponding hole in the head. I've been told it is an oil galley passage that should be plugged, but don't ever recall seeing it in other blocks.

Originally Posted by new 32 roadster

The road draft tube hole is about 1 1/4" and on top of the block just behind the distributer. This hole is about 1/2" on the LH head surface of the block, at the upper rt corner as you look at the head. It was mostly covered by the head but there is no corresponding hole in the head. I've been told it is an oil galley passage that should be plugged, but don't ever recall seeing it in other blocks.

far as i know all sbc has that oil gallery hole in them, but you you don't have a reason to know it until some machine shop leaves it out after they clean the motor. i thought most had threads in them, but if not some type of freeze plug should work.

Update - my quick fix apparently didn't work. Just turning the motor over slowly produced a drop of oil through my repair job. So, looks like I get to pull the motor and take it back to the builder.
As if that wasn't discouraging enough, the s/s brake lines which SoCal in OR installed leak at the m/c because the AN fitting adapters are apparently too short, and the brand new Wilwood pressure regulator leaks like a sieve. Its starting to look like I won't make it to Goodguys this weekend...