Robert V

Yesterday evening I put back the chrome cover over the distribution. Was a little difficult, but got there.
This morning went to my local garage to have the two years roadworthyness test done. That's just 3 miles from my home and downhill.
When I arrived and got out I saw a long trace of oil spots behind my car. It was still running, engine was still cold. Talking to the owner of the garage I asked him to have a look if that oil came from my car. When we got outsidee the oil was poooring from under the car. Engine off and searching.
Turned out that the litlle feed tube from the distributor to the oilpresure gauge was broken. There was oil everywhere. If the garage had been 20 miles out I would never had noticed that the oil was pumping out of that little tube until it would have been to late. So I am a unhappy, but lucky guy.

Warning: check that little tube it might be week or brittle, you'll never know what happened if it's to late. Or am I the only idiot that learns the hard way?

Question: My garage tells me I probably need a whole new set to repair it. Is there a way to reconnect this tube to the hollow bold in the block?

Thanks for the braindrain in advance

Alan 71

Hi RV,
You're fortunate you saw the leak so quickly.

The parts for the compression fitting at the engine block typically come with the new tube.

Changing it at the engine is pretty straight forward… changing it at the gauge is more difficult.
Try removing the passenger's side dash pad and reaching the gauge from the side.
Regards,
Alan

Robert V

Thanks Alan,
Here in France nothing is easy and available, but I will try to find a new tube and repairset. The side way approach is a good idea.

Alan 71

Hi RV,
I forgot you're in France.
Here's a photo that might help.
There's a tiny 'sleeve' that slips into the end of the tube to prevent it from collapsing. Look closely!
The little 'collet' that is compressed to make the seal should really be replaced and not used again….. although you could try to reuse it.
Regards,
Alan

Robert V

Yes that's what they showed me, when I was just in the garage. In France that collet is called an "olive" ;-), that little sleeve I missed !! I must have broken the tube when I put back the cover and the chrome sleeves over the distributor and cables. But hey I have two left hands and I am righthanded (is that even an American word.) I just found this on ebay france :

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/BOSCH-sp0f00...YAAOSwzppZ7PWM

might do the trick(?)

Thanks Allen
Regards
Robert

540 vette

I always run a steel braided line for the oil. Jegs has them.

theandies

Glad your's broke at the engine side and not at the gauge side. Now that would make a mess.

Alan 71

Hi Robert,
Yes, we do 'right handed' and 'left handed' in America too.
It looks like the tube and fitting you posted the link to might well work.
I can understand the + of being able to find it locally!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

Robert V

Going to give it a try, maybe two left hands make one right. The steel lines look good and surely less risc. Will have another look on the web. In Holland their seems to be a good supply of Corvette parts and I'm Dutch, that helps. France is a disaster, great to live terrible to get things done or to do business.

Seeing the power of that little fountain of oil coming just from under the distributor, it surely would have made a mess inside ;-), but than again you'll notice it a lot quicker....

Thanks guys! enjoy the weekend

bazza77

Your lucky it didn't do any damage .

AND your lucky it didn't split behind the dash and pour hot oil all over your carpet and gauge panel .

I went to a local hydraulic hose shop/maker with both ends and he made me a braided line .

loup68

Alan, The tiny sleeve is called a "ferrule", which sure sounds French to me! Make sure that the threads on the nuts and the shape of the ferrule are the same as the originals. From work, years ago, we had special nuts that matched that are called "captive ferrules". They have part of the fitting going through the nut to keep the ferrule from twisting and cutting the plastic tubing. Lou.

Robert V

Time difference, just started my day again. Ferrule is indeed also a French word, mainly used for the connections between electric wires. You clamp/pinch those over the wire.

71 Vert LS1

In the short term you could just put a pipe plug in place of the oil line fitting. You wouldn't have a working oil pressure gauge but at least you could drive it.

Times three on using the steel braided line. If you ever take to the track most tracks won't let you run with plastic oil lines.

Robert V

Thanks, we've put in a little bullit from a bearing and it isn't leaking oil anymore. For the time being OK. Will go for the copper or steel braided ones.
The track with the Corvette? no not this one :-)

71 Vert LS1

Copper line isn't so good either. The movement of the engine tends to flex the copper line and then crack it.

If you do use copper put a loop in the line so it has somewhere to flex as the engine moves.

ddawson

I did the branded line as well. You will need some adapters at the ends but branded is flexible on the inside and shielded on the outside.