friggin manifold part is leaking...

[cozadlance]

o.k. -- this is frustrating. no camera to show you what i am looking at. dammit. well, on the passenger side of the intake manifold, up high near the carb, is a metal elbow thingy, screwed into the manifold. it leaks oil right onto the intake in a puddle right over cylinder number 4. it is a tiny leak, but i can't seem to tighten the stupid thing. what the heck is it, and is it in need of replacement or is it something i can clean up and put back in? would it be necessary to remove the carb first? if it is any help, this is a stock cast iron manifold on a 360 2 bbl stocker engine. thanks much.

[fireguywtc]

Sorry I tried to answered your question in the welcome mat, but I am going to put it here also where it is more appropriate.

sounds like the elbow to your pvc valve and maybe power brake booster if you have one. Its hard to tell, but if you don't have a hose attached to it, then you may need to get the pvc hose to it and that may stop the leak. You may also try taking it out and cleaning everything up also, but I am just guessing that you are missing something. Good luck.

[fordman]

the vacuum tee probably needs soem thread tape on it. but it shouldnt have oil anywhere going through it. it sounds like yo uhave another problem creating oil into the manifold vacuum.

[390Nut]

Yep, blowby in the engine builds up pressure, and air/oil is going to take the path of least resistance (if not more than one).


Check to make sure your PCV is working, it should rattle freely without sticking. Might try cleaning it with brake cleaner or carb cleaner to see if that helps, or just replace it with a new one. Thread tape on the air distributor where it's leaking will stop the leak, but the oil will still have to go somewhere, until your blowby issue is fixed (meaning piston rings are likely worn.)

[fordamericana]

Pictures would help... However, if you have oil coming out of a vacuum port, than it has to be coming through the pvc valve, into the base of the carb, and down the runners...

Got blue smoke when you start the truck, or give it gas?

[cozadlance]

Update October 12: it seems this is the vacuum line to the brake booster. The "oil" turned out to be brake fluid. The part has a hose to the booster and a hard brake line feeding into the whole system for "vacuum assist braking" Is it possible to just clean up the check valve, or would it be best to just rebuild the whole M.C? I have heard rebuilt M.Cs suck. On the other hand, Finances may not allow a new one. As it stands I have 2 leaking wheel cylinders to replace, and the brake lines too. This old girl sat for 10 years with oil and gas in her, and a radiator full of plain water too. She held up well, but rust is all over the brake system. The varnish in the carb necessitated a rebuild. New fuel lines and pump too. Then the oil, water, plugs, points, condenser. Opinions on putting in a pertronix pickup in the distributor, or should I go full elec ignition? New hoses, belts. Just last night got rid of the budd split rim 16.5 in. wheels in favor of plain jane 16s. She needs a few trim pieces and paint, and some rust hole work underneath. Put in the new water outlet and thermostat last weekend. New Optima Yellow top battery, new 2 gauge batt cables... P.c.v. and air filter (wanna put a k&n filtercharger or similar on it eventually) Hoping to go synthetic oil soon. Recommendations on that as to yes/no, and if yes, which is best? Would like to make a 390 with the oil mods out of this engine someday. What gears should I stuff in the diff? I have 3.73s now and would prefer being able to do 60 without spinning the 360 up to 3 grand on the freeway. Gotta grease the zerk fittings, do a tranny service, and service the rear differential still. I also GOTTA get rid of the stock crappy single exhaust with the infamous leaky cast iron manifolds. I also am running around with a tailgate off a '78 rather than the right one. Jeez, does it ever end? LOL. Looking to borrow a camera to put up some pictures soon. Thanks, guys.

[cozadlance]

Small puff of smoke on first morning startup. Doesn't do it otherwise, and now that I paid attention to it, it isn't blue, and it does smell like brake fluid.

[cozadlance]

also guys: the intake itself: cast iron. Recommendations for a good replacement for the heavy thing? Single or dual plane, what manufacturer to go with, etc?

[TNIceWolf]

cozadlance.............you might want to take a look at this. It might give you some idea what you are up against!

http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=41744

[cozadlance]

awesome info. Mine is not so bad off as this one, but it is good food for thought. I already have the bug. I shall not fear a project I have already started, and this old Ford drives every day now for 2 months, so I am making good progress. She will be out of service while the brakes are done up, though.

[fordamericana]

also guys: the intake itself: cast iron. Recommendations for a good replacement for the heavy thing? Single or dual plane, what manufacturer to go with, etc?

Dual plane, single is for all out high rpm stuff...

[fordman]

if you have brak efluid in the booster the master has leaked it into there at one time or another.