1932 Ford Model B oil pan leakage question.

37 Coupe

37 Coupe

Well-known member
I have been on Fordbarn for years and allways with Flathead V8 questions. This Model B is new to me and hopefully I am not making a nuisance of myself but many questions and issues. The engine is a Schwalms rebabbit rebuild with supposedly only a couple hundred miles on it.Great running engine but really bad oil pan leakage. NOT Schwalms doing to make that clear but the owner who had the rebuild done. I think he bought it as a short block and put it together including the oil pan. For some reason as he had told me he installed the engine with pan off and then did the hard work underneath without a lift and had trouble so gasket and mayby the seals are comprimised. So gonna be my winter project and questions are am I missing something here,oil pan needs placed after install the block in frame? I am sure Ford dropped the entire engine together in assembly line. But is there something that will be an obstacle with back of pan? I put a Model A engine together just 5 years ago and placed in frame with pan on.Same with many V8 but no expierience with the B clutch housing and rear damper on firewall. It leaks really bad all around the surface engine to pan. hopefully windage tray is in place if that would even create this issue. I don't have a lift either but I can get it raised quite a bit or bite the bullet and pull it out? Like I said it runs great and smooth just really leaks,not just a drop but a pretty good puddle each startup. Thanks for any advice.
 
Installing the oil pan after the short block is installed? You've got to be kidding! I cannot think of a single reason that would justify that sort of thinking. It's just like a V8 except the oil pump is in the center of the block; so what? If anything that makes it easier to install with the intended sealing at the rear main bearing cap.

Dollars to donuts that the oil pan gasket and/or the rear main bearing cap seal aren't installed properly with them both properly mated to their corresponding sections of the oil pan.
 
Thanks David.If you would could you scroll down to a post and pictures I put on earlier today. It shows the left tail lamp stand that was on the coupe when I got it and the original one I just got today thanks to a fellow Fordbarner. Just wondering what the taller one is from .Thank You again and again.
 
Any chance you left out the gasket between the block and the flywheel housing? It stops oil from leaking at the end of the cam shaft. You should be able to see the edge of the gasket without taking anything apart. Don't forget the shims at the top of the flywheel housing that make up for the gasket thickness.

Charlie Stephens
 
Charlie Stephens said:
Any chance you left out the gasket between the block and the flywheel housing? It stops oil from leaking at the end of the cam shaft. You should be able to see the edge of the gasket without taking anything apart. Don't forget the shims at the top of the flywheel housing that make up for the gasket thickness.

Charlie Stephens
Click to expand...

MMayby it would be better to pull engine out and makes sure gasket and shims are in place.I have only had this car for two weeks now,an older amatuer restoration of a very good solid car. Not correct for any judging but I finally have a 1932 Ford at 78 years old.
 
The serious drawback of that article is that the non-Ford engine illustrated lets you install the oil pan before installing the flywheel. That's not an option with either a B engine or flathead V8. The close proximity of the flywheel and the rear of the cylinder block and rear main bearing cap severely limits your ability to ensure that the rear most inner extensions of the oil pan gasket have stayed in their intended places and that the seal inserted into the rear main bearing cap has remained in place. Those are the two locations likely to be the source of any major leak.
 
37 Coupe said:
MMayby it would be better to pull engine out and makes sure gasket and shims are in place.I have only had this car for two weeks now,an older amatuer restoration of a very good solid car. Not correct for any judging but I finally have a 1932 Ford at 78 years old.
Click to expand...
You don't need to pull the engine. If you have a friend with a Model A ask them to show you where the gasket and shims go as they were also used on a Model A. You should add your general location to your profile.

Charlie Stephens
 
David, the non-Ford engine in the article is a Model A :D
but you are correct about the flywheel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top