Oil leak near distributor and oil sending unit

[Huicho417]

Last year I dealt with the dreaded rear main seal leak on my coronets 318. After trying four different seals I was able to stop the leak. A couple of weeks ago I noticed a drop of oil at the bottom of the bell housing and panicked! I removed the transmission inspection port and no oil buildup inside the bell housing. Which is where it accumulated when it was the rear main seal leak. I traced the leak this morning and have a lot of buildup around the oil sender and distributor base. I did install an extender to add an oil pressure gauge. I remove that and added some Teflon. My distributor does have a metal gasket that has a small ridge down the middle. Should I add a separate gasket under the distributor? I did use my snake camera to check the rtv under the back of the intake and does not look like the leak is coming from there.

 

[jimbosride]

Electronic distributor take a metal, Points use a paper gasket (Felpro 6464).

 

[Dave6T4]

Electronic distributors usually have O-ring on base to seal inside the block hole.

 

[Huicho417]

The metal gasket is raised along the middle. Does that "ridge" go up against the distributor or down against the engine block?

 

[69Bee]

That is an early points distributor converted with Pertronix, and early distributors (iron or aluminum) used a metal shim gasket with no O-Ring provision. Later aluminum distributors used an O-Ring to seal and aftermarket provided an O-Ring and paper gasket. Your situation could benefit from installing the paper gasket and not the metal shim. Do NOT put RTV on the paper gasket!!!!!!

 

[Huicho417]

That is an early points distributor converted with Pertronix, and early distributors (iron or aluminum) used a metal shim gasket with no O-Ring provision. Later aluminum distributors used an O-Ring to seal and aftermarket provided an O-Ring and paper gasket. Your situation could benefit from installing the paper gasket and not the metal shim. Do NOT put RTV on the paper gasket!!!!!!

You are correct. I converted it to electronic via the Pertronix kit about two years ago. I have used the paper gasket before but I must have purchased and inferior type because it fell apart very soon. Does the newer style distributor with o-ring in groove eliminate this issue?

 

[Dave6T4]

Yes. Speaking for Big Block; little experience with Small Block.

 

[69Bee]

You are correct. I converted it to electronic via the Pertronix kit about two years ago. I have used the paper gasket before but I must have purchased and inferior type because it fell apart very soon. Does the newer style distributor with o-ring in groove eliminate this issue?

It will help to prevent oil to get past the distributor...

 

[Huicho417]

Any suggestions for a newer style electronic type distributor? The one I currently have has been working great, just wan to eliminate that as the source of the oil leak.

 

[69Bee]

Your current setup uses a Pertronix coil (or should) and no control box is needed. If you want to do a total conversion, there is the MSD solution or a Mopar Performance electronic upgrade kit solution. I have done both on my '69 Bee, and did not eliminate the OE electronic just in case the MSD died. All you need to do to swap back is unplug the MSD box, reconnect the Chrysler ECU and reconnect the distributor to the wiring harness and you are back in business...

 

[Huicho417]

What distributor is correct for my 1967 coronet? The one with the o-ring in groove or metal gasket. I actually found a distributor I sourced at my local scrap yard last year that has the o-ring. I could clean it and transfer the pertronix kit to this one and use it?

 

[Geoff 2]

It is very easy to machine your existing dist to take an O ring. I have done it. After removing the breaker plate, vac adv etc, remove the roll pin from the shaft & remove shaft. Body is ready for machining.