New guy with a 69

[arocars]

Do the sleeve repair. It's cheap and it will probably work just fine.

[zachste]

Originally Posted by panhead59

JUst pull the balencer and look for a groove on the shaft. That's the easiest way to tell. If there is a groove, that's your leak!!! I'd try the sleeve, it's cheap. I put one on my 66 GTO and it stopped the leak for a month or so. Then the groove appeared in the repair sleeve. Guess the groove was too wide/deep for the sleeve. It's real thin metal and just slips on or lightly tap onto the balencer shaft. It's worth a try if u find a groove. Balencers are $200+/-.

I've seen the balancers for anywhere from $50-$300. Anyone have a specific balancer they'd suggest as replacement?

Originally Posted by HO455

If it is the balancer that is leaking and it is grooved another fix is to install a new seal but don't install it as deep in the housing so the lip and grove arel not aligned. Most seals are installed by bottoming the seal in the housing. By not bottoming the seal in the housing many times you can gain 1/8" of offset on the lip and the groove. I done it at least ten times over the years. (Pontiacs are bad for this as the balancer is not on a taper so it always sits in the same place on the crank.) Not every housing will have enough space to do this so measure things up and see.
Oh and nice looking truck. Welcome aboard.

Thanks for the tip and the welcome!

Originally Posted by arocars

Do the sleeve repair. It's cheap and it will probably work just fine.

My only concern is it seems the sleeve is a hit or miss fix. I'd rather fit it once instead of multiple times.

[volksworld]

and keep an eye on that lower radiator hose...if it sits on the lip of the frame rail it'll eventually saw its way through...better off with a molded hose than a flex ....

[zachste]

So I was doing some more research while I wait on parts to show up. Is it possible the oil leak is from the keyway if that didn't receive some permatex when this balancer was installed? I have still yet to pull the balancer as I want to wait to get the new one, just incase there is wear on the current one on the motor.

edit: nevermind, after thinking about it some more, and where the oil looks like it's coming through on the timing cover, not likely the keyway would be the culprit.
Here's a snap of the truck the other day.

[Ekliptix]

I like the black fender splash guards.

[zachste]

Originally Posted by Ekliptix

I like the black fender splash guards.

Thanks man I dig them too!

[Marine-58]

Just a sugestion but what year is the engine? Last year a friend had a similar issue. after replacing the pan gasket a couple times and quite a bit of frustration, we found out that the rubber gasket between the pan and timing chain cover is actually thicker for blocks newer than 78. At least I think it was 78. He got the correct gasket and no more trouble.

[Steeveedee]

Pretty much sure that the leak is at the front seal, since there is oil on the timing chain cover above the pan gasket...if I understood that picture correctly. Before you pull the damper off, pull the oil fill cap and see if you have blow by. Yes, there shouldn't be any, but if there is, you're still probably going to have a leak. That would mean the rings aren't sealing. It's an easy and free check, though pretty unlikely to be the culprit.

BTW, that's a nice looking truck, even though I'm not into lowered vehicles.

[jessemthompson]

That's a great looking truck to start with. Now get that leak squared up so you can enjoy her!

[zachste]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Pretty much sure that the leak is at the front seal, since there is oil on the timing chain cover above the pan gasket...if I understood that picture correctly. Before you pull the damper off, pull the oil fill cap and see if you have blow by. Yes, there shouldn't be any, but if there is, you're still probably going to have a leak. That would mean the rings aren't sealing. It's an easy and free check, though pretty unlikely to be the culprit.

BTW, that's a nice looking truck, even though I'm not into lowered vehicles.

Correct, leak looks to be coming out of the front seal, from what I can tell. Will check for sure. Hopefully no blow by going on. Everything in and on this motor is new or rebuilt within the last 2500 miles afaik. Maybe except for this balancer lol.

Originally Posted by jessemthompson

That's a great looking truck to start with. Now get that leak squared up so you can enjoy her!

Still enjoy her in small spurts, but will be addressing the leak in the next few days hopefully.

[66clow]

Originally Posted by zachste

I'm on the west side in Bridgetown.


Yea I had read that. Was hoping it'd be awhile before I had to do anything on this truck as the motor only has about 2500 miles on it and that I could just drive it and enjoy it. But apparently that isn't going to happen lol.
I was hoping it was just some loose clamps from this, but they weren't really all that loose. New to v8's, as I'm a long time VW guy.

I came over to the c10 world from vw's as well. Welcome!

[1969 Project]

Nice truck!!

[yuccales]

Good looking rig you got there!

[zachste]

Just wanted to follow up on this. It was indeed due to a groove being wore into the balancer causing oil to leak. New balance and seal installed and leak free since.

I do have an additional question I'd like some ideas on regarding the steering column.
I have a vibration/rattle sound in the column, present over some bumps and even at idle in the steering column. Some of it is due to a worn gear selector lever and how it sits in the column. But I can put my hand on the column, on the cover right after the steering wheel hub/portion that tilts, and feel something almost rattling against the cover. I can post a picture if my description doesn't make any sense

[Boog]

I felt sure you would find a groove in the damper. Thanks for posting your findings. It may help others.
There is an upper and lower bearing in the column. They may be loose allowing the steering shaft to vibrate a bit. There is also a large washer and spring to preload those bearings. It is located at the lower end of the column where the intermediate shaft bolts up.

[zachste]

Originally Posted by Boog

I felt sure you would find a groove in the damper. Thanks for posting your findings. It may help others.
There is an upper and lower bearing in the column. They may be loose allowing the steering shaft to vibrate a bit. There is also a large washer and spring to preload those bearings. It is located at the lower end of the column where the intermediate shaft bolts up.

Yup that's why I wanted to make sure I followed up with the results!
As far as the steering column, can that washer and spring be adjusted without pulling the whole column? What I'm feeling seems to be higher up in the column.

[zachste]

So it looks like this boot is ripped, but still some grease up in the joint. There is up and down and side to side play in it though. Is this normal for that joint?

[Boog]

I'm not sure just how much free play is normal in that joint. I would think it wouldn't be much. Can you grab the steering wheel and move it up and down easily? I think that big spring is in place but I don't see the large washer in that pic. I think I have a pic or two of how it should look. Lemme see. It should go together like in the pic. The first pic is a parts breakdown from the LMC catalog. The second pic is courtesy of one of our members.

[zachste]

It is a tilt column, with manual steering. No play up and down at all in the wheel or column yanking on the wheel.

[zachste]

So I'm thinking my column may be the "P" style. If so, then the washer wouldn't actually be missing, but the measurement from the bottom of the bearing to the bottom of that clamp on mine is not what the manual says it should be at. Mine measure roughly 1.75" as opposed to the 1.26" suggested in the manual.

[Boog]

The lower example is the C & K model pickups. The upper example is the P model. The only P model i am aware of is the P 10 step vans. Someone correct me if i'm wrong.

[zachste]

Originally Posted by Boog

The lower example is the C & K model pickups. The upper example is the P model. The only P model i am aware of is the P 10 step vans. Someone correct me if i'm wrong.

That makes me wonder if a van tilt column was put in by the PO?

[Boog]

Anything is possible with vehicles this old.

[zachste]

Originally Posted by Boog

Anything is possible with vehicles this old.

I assume there's no definitive way to tell? I pulled the wheel off last night, and the innards of the column looked pretty old and gunned up. I need to find my wheel puller so I can check the rest of the column out.

[Boog]

I suggest you start a new thread titled "how to indentify my steering column" or something like that with pics of yours in cab and under hood. Im sure someone more familiar with them than me will pop in and help.