Bugger! Bugger!... I have stopped the leak at the top but it seems its a comination leak, must be the rear main.. Just as bad as ever.. Behind the inspection plate when I checked about a week ago it was quite dry nothing splatered over the ring gear and torque converter.. is that common?? Its coming from where the motor and trans meet about half way up [just above the oil pump, pump is dry]  and runs down the split..Discovered that my front uni is shot too!! doh!!



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Regarding the grommets. I always cut them down about half way to make sure they will not cause the bolts to interfere with the intake.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Don't get too carried away with the RTV. You don't want any of it pressing into the engine when you tighten the bolts. This stuff can raise He&& with oil pumps etc..

I put the metal valley cover in at an angle so it goes under one head, press it down as far as it goes and then gently pry with a long handle screw driver to get it the rest of the way. Pry in the notched areas. Put the screw driver down against the head and pry forward an down. This will move the valley pan tight against the opposite head and allow it to drop down. Make sure you go gently so the valley pan flexes but doesn't bend. If this won't work you can grind a little off the 4 slotted areas until it slips in. Only enough to get it in shouldn't affect the sealing area. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

I thought I had some as I have had a full engine gasket kit, not there?? Rocker ones I have .. I'll re use the neoprene gasket again it looks fine... Plenty of RTV..



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

The new gasket should have come with new grommets.Not there?If you are trying to place the right side bracket under the manifold there is a threaded hole same as left side.Depending on how much crud is on the block you may not see that hole right away.

  

Yup thats the plan!! I'll make sure I can get it in without twisting and forcing it in too!  ..Just do not want this leak again!!



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Put a straight edge on the valley cover mating surface. It's probably distorted. Bend it back so they are straight. Use some high temp silicone on the gasket, both sides.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

I'd love a pic of the right side I just couldn't see where that one goes? Yep got the left side facing in . Bugger I haven't got any spare grommets for the valley pan and the old ones are quite hard... Might have to pinch one lot from a rocker cover and replace later..



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

They do take some measuring to prefit the wires into the brackets.Took me about 3 tries to get them setup properly.Some of the aftermarket kits have the wires too short.I bought a set of Ford replacements on Ebay and even they were very short.If you look at the shop manual the illustrations show a nice set of long wires that fit well.Where do you buy a set like that today?When you install the 2 brackets on the block under the exhaust manifolds one bracket "faces" out from the block and the other side "tucks" inside against the block away from the exhaust manifold.If you look at the pic that Moonshadow posted its the left bracket that "tucks" under the block.The right side is opposite and "faces" out.The brackets were missing comepletly on mine when I got the car.As far as overtightening the valley pan the same applies to the rocker covers.They dont need to be tightened much more than the valley cover because they also become distorted where the hold down bolts are.

  

Just came in from [trying] fitting those spark lead holders.. Never again! what a pain in the arse.. some of the leads where short and not on the right plugs but it was just hard enough fitting those holders I just left it.. pfft!

Valley cover tomorrow.. gawd!



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"