Oil Leak... missing freeze plug?

[Calif240]

Alright... so finally got the new 440 going... she's loud and sounds great. Only problem is that she's leaking oil something terrible... It is leak from a hole that is just above the oil pan on the driver side of the block. It is about 6" behind the oil pump, just behind the motor mount. It looks like maybe my engine builder missed a freeze plug, as it looks like it's exactly 3/8". It doesn't look threaded. I was hoping you guys could tell me if this is indeed a freeze plug location that was somehow missed, or if it is something else entirely. It is on top of a small ear in the block. It is a '67 440 block.

Thanks,
Terry

[A383Wing]

no oil should be coming from a freeze plug...those are water plugs....I cannot think of any oil gallery passages 6" to rear of pump unless it's a crack in the block

[green69rt]

Freeze plugs hold the coolant in, not oil.   The hole you're talking about sounds like it may be one of the plugs used to drain coolant from the engine block (called a core plug) if you do it according to the manual.
Shouldn't have oil coming out of it.   Are you sure the oil is not running down from a valve cover leak?

[green69rt]

Can you take a picture?

[BSB67]

Oil dip stick hole?

[ws23rt]

You beat me to it.   But oil should not come out there unless it's overfilled. The tubes (when installed) don't seal well but shouldn't need to.

[Calif240]

It is definitely oil, and 3/8" hole. It is just behind the driver front motor mount and can be seen from above. It is on a small "ear" in the block casting. It could be the oil dipstick, but I'm a novice and this is my first engine install and rebuild, so I want to be sure I don't do something stupid that would lead to losing oil or something while driving. The oil only comes out when the oil pump is pumping. It looks like it's pushing out about a quart for 5 minutes of idling. I've taken picture from above between the 1 and 3 cylinder. Thanks for everyones input.

[Calif240]

BTW... the picture is upside down... steering gearbox is in the picture... ear with hole at the bottom.

[Calif240]

Thats it... the oil dipstick... I just did a search and saw a better picture. I was doing my original searches for freeze plugs, oil plugs, and other things except oil dipsticks. Thanks for the reply... that was a logical answer, just wasn't presenting itself at first.
Thanks again...

[A383Wing]

so you are running the engine with no dipstick tube in it?

[ws23rt]

so you are running the engine with no dipstick tube in it?

I wonder the same thing.  When I add the first oil I can't help the need to see in at the full level

But on the other hand the need to hear it fire for the first time sometimes blurs the thinking.  I've done most of the oops things myself.

[green69rt]

If it's throwing it out the dipstick hole then it makes me wonder whats going on inside the engine??  Too full or is the windage tray missing.   The crank gets a lot of oil pumped to it so I can see some flying around but is that enough to pump a quart out the dipstick hole in 5 minutes?   Don't know, but it sounds like a lot.

I don't think the crank is supposed to dip into the oil liquid in the sump but I may be wrong.

So did you get the tube in and problem solved??

[Calif240]

It is definitely the oil dipstick hole... It is on order. One of the last things I don't have. Engine runs and sounds great though. I'll try to post a video if I can.
Thanks
Terry

[Charger-Bodie]

The crank will fling the oil around that's falling down from above. Like from the cam, etc. And the other thing to consider is that it don't take much oil to make a mess on the floor.

[fy469rtse]

Terry , be patient pal, there pressed in , hard to do with engine in the car, especially if you buy an after market chrome one , I filed the tip of tube and then polished it, so it could start in the hole , used one of my brake line spanners , ring spanner with slot to fit over tube, you can rest it to the lip that finishes against block , tapped on the spanner and just get moving the spanner around, frustrating but once it started it got easier

[Calif240]

Thanks so much for the advice FY469RTSE! Appreciate it!

[fy469rtse]

No problem, glad my misfortune in forgetting it and having a hard time of it gives some one else the idea how to tackle it

[cudaken]

Don't buy a chrome one! I love chrome, but the one I bought had a chrome plated dipstick besides just the tube. Chrome started flaking off and going into the oil pan! 

[fy469rtse]

Exactely Ken , that's what I meant , I took the the chrome off the area that goes into block , everything above chrome, the extra plating thickness almost drove me mad trying to get it in