383 Stroker oil leak

I have a 383 Stroker and I think I found the oil leak, coming out of the distributor hole in the intake manifold. I think more/thicker gaskets will cure the problem. I have noticed on this engine that oil is forced up around the distributor when the oil pump is engaged. I saw this when I was priming the engine with oil prior to running. I have not seen this on other SBC engines. Ideas?

 

The bottom of your distributor is part of your oil passages. The two raised rings with a grouve in the middle, should line up with the passages in the block. You may need to shim slightly, and your right about the gaskets, and make sure the dist. is snug. I'm not a chevy expert, but I'd make sure everything is ok with the block passages and dist., missing oil passage plugs etc. Good luck, Tom.

 

Little silicone may help too. I had the same leak, but not anymore

 

Check the distributor o-rings for damage.

 

That could be your leak source; oil has to flow around the distributor housing on an SBC, and the o-ring could be damaged/missing. And make sure your intake surface(where the distributor housing mates to the intake)is flat. Is it an older intake that's been on a few motors?

 

No, it's a brand new intake. I am thinking the o-ring maybe damaged like was said. I'll check that also.

 

what O-ring?

 

What distributor are you running?

 

Look at the bottom of the housing...http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MSD-85551/?rtype=10

You can see the two o-rings with a groove in between them...that area goes directly through an oil gallery and acts both as a seal/passage. Many Chevrolet distributors made for the V8 have a similar layout. Some depend on the housing tolerances to seal...and some of those work better than others.

Damaged o-rings are fairly common since they have to be maneuvered past the manifold and the edges of the block itself in order to seat the distributor. It's a good idea to coat the housing with assembly lube, although I try to keep it out of the oil passage itself.

 

Not all sbc distributors have those o-rings, but if yours should then it would definitely be worth replacing them.

 

I would look at the pvc system, If your building pressure in the crankcase it will force it out some weird places.

 

You guys hit it again. had not connected the PVC and oil was blowing out everywhere. Sometimes its just the simple things that jump up and bite ya.