There I go, probably jinxed myself.
No oil leaks?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 7
From: Bluffton,SC
No oil leaks?
is it realistic to expect to purchase a C3 that has NO oil leaks?
I recently sold a 72 that went through a body off restoration done to a very high standard but it had a small leak from the rear main and a small leak from the turbo 400. I also recently looked to purchase a very nicely restored 74 with a manual trans and the owner said it had a small rear main and trans leak but otherwise perfect.
Both owners said "they all leak".
Is this just something someone says who has a leaky car or is this true.
I passed on the 74 because of this. Am I being unrealistic?
I recently sold a 72 that went through a body off restoration done to a very high standard but it had a small leak from the rear main and a small leak from the turbo 400. I also recently looked to purchase a very nicely restored 74 with a manual trans and the owner said it had a small rear main and trans leak but otherwise perfect.
Both owners said "they all leak".
Is this just something someone says who has a leaky car or is this true.
I passed on the 74 because of this. Am I being unrealistic?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 878
Likes: 55
From: Deep South Denmark
is it realistic to expect to purchase a C3 that has NO oil leaks?
I recently sold a 72 that went through a body off restoration done to a very high standard but it had a small leak from the rear main and a small leak from the turbo 400. I also recently looked to purchase a very nicely restored 74 with a manual trans and the owner said it had a small rear main and trans leak but otherwise perfect.
Both owners said "they all leak".
Is this just something someone says who has a leaky car or is this true.
I passed on the 74 because of this. Am I being unrealistic?
I recently sold a 72 that went through a body off restoration done to a very high standard but it had a small leak from the rear main and a small leak from the turbo 400. I also recently looked to purchase a very nicely restored 74 with a manual trans and the owner said it had a small rear main and trans leak but otherwise perfect.
Both owners said "they all leak".
Is this just something someone says who has a leaky car or is this true.
I passed on the 74 because of this. Am I being unrealistic?
On a manual you don't want the rear main to leak.
Last edited by Danish Shark; May 22, 2015 at 08:22 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
The answer to your question is:
YES! It would be HIGHLY unusual to purchase any 40+ year-old car and find no oil leakages. If there was such a car, why would anyone consider selling it?
On the other hand, a car in poor condition which has had all the 'fluids' drained from it....will not leak.
If you are considering the purchase of a C3, you MUST expect to repair/replace/fix a BUNCH of stuff on it....or pay DEARLY for a C3 which does not need fixing.
YES! It would be HIGHLY unusual to purchase any 40+ year-old car and find no oil leakages. If there was such a car, why would anyone consider selling it?
On the other hand, a car in poor condition which has had all the 'fluids' drained from it....will not leak.
If you are considering the purchase of a C3, you MUST expect to repair/replace/fix a BUNCH of stuff on it....or pay DEARLY for a C3 which does not need fixing.
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
The 1981 model, that I got this past Tuesday, does not leak, anywhere. I got into the car after purchasing it, and drove it 3 hours back to my home. I arrived home in the late afternoon, experiencing no issues along the way. I parked it in my garage and the
next morning, when I got into it started right up, much to my surprised.
I backed it out of my garage, and went to see where it was leaking, and not a drop anywhere.
I guess it does happen.
next morning, when I got into it started right up, much to my surprised.
I backed it out of my garage, and went to see where it was leaking, and not a drop anywhere.
I guess it does happen.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 692
Likes: 69
From: Juneau AK
My 1981 had it's L-81 beefed up by a professional engine builder to about 410hp. Much to my surprise I noticed a drop of oil under the car when we got it back in.... I thought no big deal. So I changed the rear main with the next oil change... it still leaked. I took it back to the guy who built it, he changed it ... still leaked. 2 other garages have tried and so did I again this spring. I still get a dime sized dot after every run.....
Someday there's going to be an LS in this car and I'm going to be hoping for better....
kdlp
Someday there's going to be an LS in this car and I'm going to be hoping for better....
kdlp
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
While I know the world is imperfect and things do leak, a 40 something yo survivor is different to a top dollar restoration or resto rod in my book,
I would not want to pay big money and get a item that leaked, now what is a "leak"
My vw trike for example and ACVW's are more prone to leaking than Harleys doesn't "leak" it can stay parked in the same spot for weeks maybe months and not a drop BUT it has oil mist after a run here and there who know from where, that to some would still be a leak but not to me,
With my 69 Corvette, the 454 might loose a drop or two in a month or two the tranny nothing I feel lucky but my junk isn't top end dollar stuff,
"They all leak" I think is more a blanket excuse than a real 100% true statement.
I would not want to pay big money and get a item that leaked, now what is a "leak"
My vw trike for example and ACVW's are more prone to leaking than Harleys doesn't "leak" it can stay parked in the same spot for weeks maybe months and not a drop BUT it has oil mist after a run here and there who know from where, that to some would still be a leak but not to me,
With my 69 Corvette, the 454 might loose a drop or two in a month or two the tranny nothing I feel lucky but my junk isn't top end dollar stuff,
"They all leak" I think is more a blanket excuse than a real 100% true statement.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
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From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 708
Likes: 21
From: Montrose CA
I'm going with unlikely that you will avoid leaks... my freeking 10-month old R4 AC compressor started leaking a month ago. AC compressor? Really?
is it realistic to expect to purchase a C3 that has NO oil leaks?
I recently sold a 72 that went through a body off restoration done to a very high standard but it had a small leak from the rear main and a small leak from the turbo 400. I also recently looked to purchase a very nicely restored 74 with a manual trans and the owner said it had a small rear main and trans leak but otherwise perfect.
Both owners said "they all leak".
Is this just something someone says who has a leaky car or is this true.
I passed on the 74 because of this. Am I being unrealistic?
I recently sold a 72 that went through a body off restoration done to a very high standard but it had a small leak from the rear main and a small leak from the turbo 400. I also recently looked to purchase a very nicely restored 74 with a manual trans and the owner said it had a small rear main and trans leak but otherwise perfect.
Both owners said "they all leak".
Is this just something someone says who has a leaky car or is this true.
I passed on the 74 because of this. Am I being unrealistic?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 7
From: Bluffton,SC
The answer to your question is:
YES! It would be HIGHLY unusual to purchase any 40+ year-old car and find no oil leakages. If there was such a car, why would anyone consider selling it?
On the other hand, a car in poor condition which has had all the 'fluids' drained from it....will not leak.
If you are considering the purchase of a C3, you MUST expect to repair/replace/fix a BUNCH of stuff on it....or pay DEARLY for a C3 which does not need fixing.
YES! It would be HIGHLY unusual to purchase any 40+ year-old car and find no oil leakages. If there was such a car, why would anyone consider selling it?
On the other hand, a car in poor condition which has had all the 'fluids' drained from it....will not leak.
If you are considering the purchase of a C3, you MUST expect to repair/replace/fix a BUNCH of stuff on it....or pay DEARLY for a C3 which does not need fixing.
I am not talking about a 40 year old survivor but a freshly restored car that has all new seals,gaskets etc.
I do expect to have to repair and replace items . This will be Corvette number 17 for me ranging from 1966 to 2014 so I am not new to this but oil leaks are just a pet peeve with me. I just sold a 22000 mile 94 and it was dry as a bone and never leaked a drop of anything. I was just wanting a C3 of the same quality.
But if everyone agrees with you then I have the answer I was looking for.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
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From: San Diego California
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
If you want a leak-free engine, one has to be meticulous about inspecting/preparing/repairing ALL of the sealing surfaces on ALL of the mating parts, selecting the proper (not necessarily the 'best' or most expensive) gaskets/seals, removing ALL oil/dirt from the mating surfaces prior to assembly, and using appropriate sealants when really needed.
Engine builders use fresh/new stuff and most clean parts pretty well; but they are focused on assembly...not making the engine completely leak free. All of them could probably do that, but the owner would have to specifically request that they take the extra time and effort to get that job done. Most of them use "fast" as their Mantra...not assuring the engine to be leak-free.
P.S. It is possible that one of the oil plugs on the back surface of the block has a small drip and is running down the [invisible] block surface to the rear main seal. I've had it happen.
Engine builders use fresh/new stuff and most clean parts pretty well; but they are focused on assembly...not making the engine completely leak free. All of them could probably do that, but the owner would have to specifically request that they take the extra time and effort to get that job done. Most of them use "fast" as their Mantra...not assuring the engine to be leak-free.
P.S. It is possible that one of the oil plugs on the back surface of the block has a small drip and is running down the [invisible] block surface to the rear main seal. I've had it happen.
Last edited by 7T1vette; May 24, 2015 at 10:26 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California