55 T-bird oil leak

M

mike33ford

Junior Member
I recently purchased a 55 T-bird. When sitting, there is no oil leak, but when driving, the oil leaks out in a continuous stream of drips. What is the most likely cause, and best fix for this leak. (I still need to clean the undercarriage and get the car on jacks so I can check, but thought I would first ask and see if those of you who know these engines might immediately know the answer.) Thanks very much,
Mike
 
I’d guess a continuous stream is a pressure leak, not a leaking gasket. Not always, a guess. First up would be the filter canister or the spin on filter or adapter, depending on what you’ve got. Next is the rear main seal. Or the oil pressure sender/light. But you really need to see where is leaking first.

Sometimes the valve cover, valley pan, road draft tube, etc. will leak down the back of the block and appear as a rear main leak. Sometimes it’s not the rear main, but the retainer.

The only continuous leaks I’ve had are the gasket from the block to the filter adapter (ran for years, and suddenly a trail of oil) and a Best gasket “Orange” silicone rear main on a 312. Those orange seals failed in 500 miles or so, and I got one before that was known.

But you really need to find it before we can talk about fixing it.

Congratulations on the purchase and good luck.
 
I found the cause of the leak -- it seems to be a gauge next to the oil filter. Oil is spirting from the gauge. I tightened it, but the leak is the gauge itself, not the threads. I looked up on ebay and found "engine pressure gauge" which looks to be the part. Or perhaps it is the oil pressure or oil temp gauge. In any case, seems like I just need to replace this part and hopefully the leak will stop. Is there some way to attach a picture to this thread?
 
I think what you’re talking about is the oil pressure sending switch, which controls the oil pressure light. You could also have an aftermarket oil pressure gauge, either electrical or a copper tube. Here’s a typical oil pressure sw, yours may have been replaced with a different terminal over the years, but this should be pretty close. Aside from getting to it, replacement is straitforward. It’s an electrical connection so do not use Teflon tape on the threads.
 

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When you post the message, click “go Advanced”, scroll down to attachments, for a photo I’m usually using “photo library”. Select your photo, click use or add, or whatever your browsers uses. Go to the bottom of the page and click “close window”. Then post the reply with the attachment. That’s what I just did above.
 
Mike,
Thanks again for your help. I could not be more happy that this leak can be fixed for a $10 part. I was imagining a week under the car replacing the oil pan! The picture you sent is the same looks the same as the catalog pics. thanks also for the tip not to use teflon tape (I would have used tape if you had not mentioned.)
Mike
 
Great that you found it. After owning my bird since 1999, I’ve never fixed anything for 10 bucks. Good for you.

Enjoy the ride.
 
Gene F said:
Did you guys see DMSFFR's picture? Now that is a true 312 in a Thunderbird.
Click to expand...
Thanks Gene, but it's a long story... 292's and 312's can look virtually identical. (Buyer Beware)

http://ford-y-block.com/identify312.htm

The engine in the reply #8 photo above was removed from a D-code '57 T-Bird. It was supposed to be a 312 but is actually a '55 292 block (ECK) with '58/'59 heads (5752-113).
When the owner found out he was not happy at all and had it pulled from his '57, keeping some of the bolt-on parts for a replacement 312.

I bought it for my '55 T-Bird, to replace the tired '54 256 some car flipping 'clown' had swapped in at least one previous owner ago. I added a '57 4bbl intake, carb, dist, '57 exhaust manifolds, hi-ratio rocker arms and a '57 air cleaner. The original cast aluminum valve covers were kept but 'temporarily' replaced with a custom painted set.

http://ford-y-block.com/Block%20identification.htm

http://ford-y-block.com/cylinderheadchart.htm

http://www.portholeauthority.com/thunderbirdETC/tech/engine.html

http://www.y-block.info/casting/exhaust.html
.
 

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