Hot Rods Time definitely gets away from you. Roadster off the road 1477 days

I've owned my Roadster for 35 plus years. When I lived in California I drove it a lot. I didn't accumulate a lot of miles, but I'd drive it a lot. The longest trip was from San Francisco Bay Area to Portland Oregon, and back. Then I moved to the Midwest. Not very good Roadster weather. I would drive it once and awhile. Longest trip being to the HAMB drags a few times, and back, about 3 hours one way. Well it started to leak oil, not much, just a light spray on the windshield if the hood was off, or on the firewall if the hood was on. I couldn't find the leak. It didn't put a puddle on the ground, just a few drips. I didn't worry to much about it, until the last time I drove it. The windshield was covered. I still couldn't find the source of the oil. The motor wasn't covered. it still didn't leave big puddles. The motor is a 2.0 Ford 4 cyl. It has a belt driven oil pump, I'm thinking that might be the source of the oil. My plan was to pull the motor, and install all new seals and gaskets. I removed the radiator, and that's all I've done, that was 1477 days ago. That's 4 years and 17 days. It seems like just yesterday I parked it. I miss it. It needs to get fixed, soon. I have excuses for it sitting so long, but it's time for the excuses to stop, and the work to start. I have 4 jobs here on other peoples cars to finish, and a shop to organize, but it's happening soon. Here's a picture of the windshield when I parked it 1477 days ago. I'm glad I sit below the windshield. I wouldn't have needed hair gel for awhile if I wasn't below the windshield.
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That's a lot of oil. You really need an oil wiper.

 

That looks like a beautiful roadster. I hope you get it apart and back together so that you can enjoy it this summer.

 

Great roadster.

 

If you clean the engine then spray all the oil related areas with dye check developer
You may see the leak without ruining the engine
Engine must be cleaned very well
Blow the engine off with compressed air

if you don’t see any traces of a leak and have to run it
Remove the fan, you shouldn’t need to run it long

 

Well at least you know it didn’t get rusty while parked!

 

I'm suspect of the breathers, cut a sock up an slip over, See how much oil on short drive..

 

As mentioned, they have dyes for diagnosing now. Since it's coming out, I'd guess it will get the full kit of seals. Do it once type of thing.

 

All I see are air breathers attached to the valve cover, no PVC or any other method of expelling the built up crank case gases. Add in a little engine wear and the built up pressure has to go someplace, the breathers on the valve cover are the easiest pressure relief point on the motor. The motor is spitting out an oil mist, and the wind and fan are sending the mist to the first thing it contacts, the windshield, or the firewall if there is a hood.

I suspect a quick run on the highway, followed with a quick stop and a wipe around the bottom of the cover breathers will show you an oil presence.
Adding a PVC valve, or a road draft tube that dumps under the car, or spliced into a header pipe should remove the oil coating from the windshield or the firewall. I would also clean (or change) all the cover air breathers to be sure air can pass through them.
You have to have a way to get fresh air into the crankcase, then back out to solve the oil push. As is, you have a way to get air in, but it has to exit the same way.

 

Thanks for the replies. GENE-KONING, there is a road draft tube on the side of the block, under the carbs. The breathers have been on the car for a long time before the oil showed up. I did put old socks around the breathers and put new foam in them. Also I had the head rebuilt, new rings, new bearings, new gaskets and the oil didn't show up until many miles later. I just need to get my head back into it and figure it out. There were a lot of life things that caused the car to sit for this long. Those problems are now not a problem anymore.

 

I had a motor that would push oil out at higher highway speeds. A plugged up air breather was the cause of mine.
Maybe you need to put a baffle between the oil source and the breathers. The road draft tube could be partially blocked too.

 

Well today I pushed the Roadster outside for the first time in probably four years. I wiped it down to get the dust off it. It's cleaning up really well. I haven't started to clean the dust off the chrome, or clean the interior yet. I'll start on that tomorrow. I cleaned up in the shop a little, still a lot more to do in the shop. I pushed it back in, put the battery charger on it, and did some more stuff in the shop. I checked the battery and it's starting to take a charge. I put some gas in it, and checked the oil, the oil was a little low, so I topped it off. Right before I closed up shop to go into the house I hit the power button and had power, so I hit the starter button and it cranked over, I let it turn over until it had oil pressure, and when it got fuel pressure it tried to fire. I checked everything over and was happy with what I saw, I pumped the gas, hit the starter button, and she fired right up. I let it idle for a few minutes, and nothing was leaking, I was worried about the carbs leaking, but so far they are not leaking. It sounds great, and idles perfect. The radiator isn't in it so I didn't let it run very long. Tomorrow I will start cleaning the chrome, and maybe the interior. Oh, and the best thing is I think I know where all the oil is coming from. These engines have a belt driven overhead cam, and from what I can see right now is the oil is coming out the front cam seal behind the cam gear. Should be an easy fix. It surprising how dirty a car can get that has had an expensive car cover on it. I'm disappointed I've let it sit so long, but The wife's health problems really have put a damper on things, and having other cars to drive filled the void of the Roadster not being available. At least I still have it. And the wife's health is much better.

 

That’s great news!

 

a VERY easy 'like' for this one!

 

Car looks great and glad to hear your wife's health is better.

 

Glad to hear your wife is doing better.

I hope you can get the leaking seal replace soon.
We want to see your smile while you go down the road.

 

Glad both the wife and car are on the mend, people always come first. Good Luck

 

All the best for your dear wife and your cool Roadster.