Valley pan and oil leaking

[bigmanjbmopar]

Looks like I have an oil leak from the valley pan around the intake manifold. Good thing it is easy to take of and on. When I set this up I did not think about how things were going to final fit. With the Eddy rpm manifold and the aluminum heads there was a small gap between the heads manifold and the valley I used some rtv to fill that void but it looks like it may have breached in one or more spots. does anyone have a good solution for this?

 

[67 B-body]

I've only seen people use the valley pan gasket with the eddy performer rpm heads. I have the plate cover on mine, but the heads are different than yours. Mine are the victor type heads and have a flanged area that the cover fits against.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

These are the stealth heads.

 

[scotts74birds]

Cant say I've ever used, or SEEN a valley pan like yours! Are you sure its not just a splash, or heat shield? All the others I've seen have the ports stamped into them and are used as an intake gasket. That design will always give you an oil leak. Something wrong here!? That just doesn't look like a valley pan.

 

[Stumper]

Got the same problem on mine with Indy heads so watching the thread with interest. Mine was sealed with RTV all along the intake sides and on both web ends when it was apart - and still leaks at the same location on the back.....

 

[IQ52]

That appears to be the 440 Source valley pan for the dual plane manifolds. I've used the 440 Source valley pans along with other people I know. We've all had the same problem, if they don't leak right away, they will eventually.

I believe the pans are too thin and vibrate and loosen the silicone seal. If you have a standard port head and intake just use the factory style valley pan that is sandwiched between the head and intake and throw away the tin kind that the head just lays on.

For ports bigger than standard (Max Wedge or smaller on iron heads) I've used single plane manifolds and bent my own valley pans much like the factory ones, only from thicker sheet steel. They take a little time to construct, but they don't leak like the one you are using.

The Victor kind that bolt to the head and the Indy thick castings seem to work fine. Exception noted post above.

 

[70rr-brian]

What sort of crankcase pressure alleviation are you running? If I recall I saw a pic of your motor in the car on a previous thread. Was it you I saw running 2 PCV's? Why the need for 2? But I may be mistaken you for someone else. If its a stroker, which it seems like it is, you probably aren't pulling a lot of vacuum. This could be caused by inadequate crankcase pressure ventilation.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Vent is 1 PVC to carb and filter breather on the other side, This thing vibrating and breaking the seal sounds like what is happening. and I am going to reseal this once then chuck it and get the stock style with the gasket flange built in. and yes it is the 440source one, I go it specifically for the Eddy rpm manifold because of the dip in the middle for the plenum. The stock style will work right? This is my first build so learning allot. thanks for all the reply's.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

I am hearing the fel pro is a good choice? Fel-Pro Q1215

 

[IQ52]

Yep, both of those above should work just fine.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Good think I 'll go with the fel pro from Summit I feel so ripped off by 440source now lol

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

The 440source pan does have some flew to it and the original seal I did had broken, it was small and clean, until I get the fel pro set up here is what the rtv overkill looks like in case anyone else needs to search for this topic.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

oh and the plenum valley was full of oil, it was only getting worse as time went by.

 

[scotts74birds]

Imho, that is a set-up that is just begging for a leak. I've had problems sealing my Eddy intake to an 383. I found that the valley pan with the paper gaskets made the intake bolts hard to go in. In the end, I just used the bare valley pan with Permatex Hylomar on both sides of the gasket surface. This was recommended to me by others on the forum a few years ago. It has worked well.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Hasn't re leaked yet but I will change it once it's up fir winter or starts leaking again which ever comes first. You could see the flex in the pan by pushing down with your hand. Funny it was only on one side makes me think head isn't fitting right or needs re torque.