Fixing oil leaks on my 305

[Andy4639]

Going to start this week on fixing some minor oil leaks on the front of the 305 to get it ready for the 3000 mile round trip to Texas and back in June.
I started today by putting it in the garage where I can work on it for the next few weeks without moving it. I got the air housing off so far. Just going to take my time and do a little at a time. Winter time so not much driving it anyway.



My plan is to take all the belts off and replace with new ones and keep the old ones for spares during the trip. I have oil leaking from the timing gear cover and front of the oil pan and on this model engine you have to take both loose to fix one are the other. So I'm going to replace both with new gaskets and sealer plus paint whatever I can. New cranck seal rear main seal the works. Going to pull water pump and paint it and clean up the front of the motor while at it.
New plugs wires and such also.
Anybody have any tips for me?

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

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My plan is to take all the belts off and replace with new ones and keep the old ones for spares during the trip. I have oil leaking from the timing gear cover and front of the oil pan and on this model engine you have to take both loose to fix one are the other. So I'm going to replace both with new gaskets and sealer plus paint whatever I can. New cranck seal rear main seal the works. Going to pull water pump and paint it and clean up the front of the motor while at it.
New plugs wires and such also.
Anybody have any tips for me?

Good plan on keeping older stuff for spares for a long trip.

If your crankshaft oil seal is leaking, be prepared to replace the harmonic balancer, buy a repair sleeve, or an offset oil seal. I've done all three. Each one works. You'll know you need to do something if there is a groove in your balancer. I'd hate to see you do all that work and still have a leak there.
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[Andy4639]

Yea I got the regular seal and my friend who is a mechanic told me once I get it apart to check it good. I plan to get him over to the house and look at it also. Thanks for the heads up though!
I'll be posting pictures as I go if I don't forget. I'm bad about getting started and not wanting to stop to take pictures.

[PanelDeland]

Might be as easy to pull the motor and reseal everything.You would be able to clean/paint better also.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

Might be as easy to pull the motor and reseal everything.You would be able to clean/paint better also.

I thought about it but just don't have the equipmemt to do it.

[Andy4639]

Well I started on the truck today. Got the radiator, water pump off crank pulleys off. I don't have the puller for the balancer but I can get one in the morning. Going to jack the truck up and drain the oil and filter tonight.
I have to drop the oil pan to get all the leaks fixed so I'm doing the oil change as well.
I'll post the pictures here in a little while after I eat.

[Andy4639]

Looks like I'm going to have to pull the intake as well to get all the leaks fixed.
This may take longer than I had plan but it has to be done. Going to clean everything good and repaint it to I hope while I have it a part.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

I just fixed the leaking water neck on mine.

My damn mustang hasn't leaked a drop of anything the first 6 months I bought it, then all of a sudden the trans pan is leaking, oil pan leaking, timing cover leaking... what the crap?

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

I just fixed the leaking water neck on mine.

My damn mustang hasn't leaked a drop of anything the first 6 months I bought it, then all of a sudden the trans pan is leaking, oil pan leaking, timing cover leaking... what the crap?

What do you expect form a Ford!
For over 200,000 on the motor it's not to bad really!

[Andy4639]

I picked up a new water pump and timing gear set today.
Got the balancer off and got everything cleaned up to start back with now. I have a few days of painting and I need the radaitor fixed.
Balancer was fine along with the shaft. Just need seals and she is good to go another 200,000 I hope.

[Andy4639]

I just called griffin radiator company just to see what a radiator from them cost. Nothing fance mind you just the normal type truck radiator. Man was I surprised! $600.00 base price.
I know these are top of the line hand made but dang! I never thought it be that much.
Well I guess my old one will get took to the local shop and fix it.

[Lee H]

Nice progress.
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[Andy4639]

Thanks,
got the new timing set in and aligned correctly thanks to my buddy Bill for stopping by and making sure it was right.
Just taped off the front of the motor and used aluimnum foil to cover up stuff so I could paint it. Just came in to let the first coat dry before spraying another.

[GRX]

How do you like re-installing that timing cover without moving the oil pan? Fun huh?

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by GRX

How do you like re-installing that timing cover without moving the oil pan? Fun huh?

Well to be honest it wasn't as bad as I had been thinking it was going to be.
I cheated a little though. I loosened the front 3 bolts on each side of the pan just to give it some play. I took 2 small screw drivers and wedged in the front ends of the pan and it went right on. I used plenty of sealer also.
Time will tell. I have to pickup the new belts and radiator when it's done and fill it up with oil and water anti freeze and power steering fluid.

[Andy4639]

Well had a surprise for us this morning when we woke up! No hot water. The wife wakes me up at 6am after going to bed at 4am. No hot water. Well I get dressed and go look under the house and I have a small pond where the hot water heater pop off valve let go.
Anyway long story short. Got hot water back had to buy new heater.

I'm waiting on water to heat up to get a shower so I can go pickup belts to finish up the truck. Called about the radiator he said it would be done by 5pm. Got to be at work by 5 so I guess I'll pick it up tomorrow. May have this done by Saturday who knows.

[Andy4639]

Got the radiator from shop and put the belts on the truck. That all I had time for today before coming to work. Hope to get everthing tightened up and filled up tomorrow.

[Andy4639]

Not much done today. Changed out all the mounting bolts on water pump and alternator to Stainless Steal and adjusted all the belts tight. Time to get ready for work.

[Andy4639]

Got home this morning after working a 12 hr shift and got everything put back together. Filled the Power steering up, radiator and oil filter with 5w-30 snythitic oil. Jacked the truck up and turned the wheel a couple of times lock to lock. Set it back down and cranked it up and did the same thing. Then I let it run for about 20 minutes and checked for any leaks. Didn't find none so I think I'm good. Top everything off and called it good!Now it just needs to stop raining.

[GRX]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Well to be honest it wasn't as bad as I had been thinking it was going to be.
I cheated a little though. I loosened the front 3 bolts on each side of the pan just to give it some play. I took 2 small screw drivers and wedged in the front ends of the pan and it went right on. I used plenty of sealer also.
Time will tell. I have to pickup the new belts and radiator when it's done and fill it up with oil and water anti freeze and power steering fluid.

Cool deal. That is not cheating. It's either move the pan, or manipulate (cut or bend) the lip on the timing cover to get it on. Cannot remember how many dozens of times I have dealt with this in friends' and customer's engines. Who's bright idea was it to put Nylon teeth on the cam gear anyway? So what if it's a bit more quiet.

[Andy4639]

Here are a couple of complete pictures.