1941 strong oil leaking problem

[MikeGerman]

Hey guys,
I already mentioned it in one of the threads; my 1941 Coupe is leaking a lot of oil.
I bought it last year and drove since then around 500mls. Everytime I want to park the car again, I have long lines of oil and a lot beneath my car.

The engine was overhauled last year and I take the rear end seal as the suspect.

A friend told me to wait and see, probably the leaking will disappear when the car is driving. Not yet.
Do you have other assumptions what it might be?

Or tipps for the work that will lie infront of me?
I already read that some people used a Mercedes Seal instead. Any thoughts on this?

Best,
Mike

[fishnjim]

I wouldn't drive it anymore, if it leaks that much.   
Look at all the usual suspects first before you going engine diving.   If you can't tell, degunk and dry the engine first then run and monitor with light, mirror, etc.
Another case of poor rebuilding...This would have showed up if they ran it in the shop.

[DaveZ]

What Jim said. Clean it, put oil in it and start it. Look for the oil. From what you pictured it shouldn't be hard to find. When you say overhauled what exactly did they do? Whatever you do don't drive until it's fixed. If you have good oil pressure it could be a hole in the pan or the plug is loose.  Whatever it is it won't fix itself:-) Let us know what you find.

[Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373]

Don't forget to check the oil sending unit as well.
Good luck.
Jeff

[Marty Michaels]

Are you running a oil filter,if you are make sure that the rubber gasket is seated correctly if not oil will leave what you see. Marty

[Bob Schuman]

Adding to Jeff Rose's comment, the oil pressure sensing is not electric, but is a small tube from near the distributor to the dash gauge. These have been known to fracture, letting a lot of oil run down the back end of the engine.

[C Gorgas]

Does the distributor have a gasket where it enters the block?

[MikeGerman]

Hey Marty,
There were no oil filters at the 346‘s Engines.
To Mr. Gorgas, yes there was a gasket. I replaced it.
Put everything together and drove home 20Mls. No proböems so far. Will drive to a car meet tomorrow, approx 50-60mls. Will check undercarriage then again.


I have one more question:
I want to change the 4-bladed fan with a five or six-bladed. Anyone has a guess where I can find one of those?

Best
Mike

[Bobby B]

I want to change the 4-bladed fan with a five or six-bladed. Anyone has a guess where I can find one of those?

Commercial Chassis Vehicle......
                                     Bobby

[35-709]

There were indeed aftermarket oil filter installations available for Cadillacs (and other makes) from the mid-30s on and many Cadillacs had them.

"Doug Houston
Guest

Re: 1941 cadillac oil filter
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2006, 12:51:26 AM »
Quote
there were two types of bracketry for aftermarket filter installations on the engines from 1936 through 1948. The first placed the filter above the LH cylinder head, with brackets attaching to the manifold mounting dogs.

The second design placed the filter bracket on the front of the LH cylinder head down nearer the bottom of it. The lower and wider engine compartments in 41 permitted the newer mount."

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

There is a blast from the past.   Doug Houston, May he be resting in peace.

Bruce.