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Forum: C3 Driveline Components

Topic: oil drip from bellhouse hole

oil drip from bellhouse hole (1/3)
10/2/18 3:37pm

Reds82CE

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McKinney, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1982 Collector Edition, Silver-Beige metallic, 40000 miles and counting. 2015 Z51 Red Convertible

Joined: 4/8/2005
Posts: 192

my 82 is all original. I have a small round hole in the base of the Bellhousing (directly opposite the oil drain plug). There is always a drip of oil hanging from the hole. after a few weeks there is an oil stain in the cardboard under the tranny about he size of a silver dollar (not pooled, just lightly soaked into the cardboard). Since this is engine oil and not tranny fluid, I suspect a small leak in the rear main seal (even though it was replaced about 10 years ago)

I cannot find any reference in the 82 shop manual about this small round hole, but it definitely looks factory made.

Anyone know if this hole is factory and if so, why it exists/purpose? is it suppose to have a rubber plug?

Thanks

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Re: oil drip from bellhouse hole (2/3)
10/2/18 10:02pm

Adams' Apple

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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

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The dust covers all had small holes in them to allow water(and oil, obviously) to escape from the cover. This keeps it from holding enough liquid in it for the flywheel to catch and spit out everywhere. No plug for them, nor is one needed or recommended.

Engine oil leaking from there can be from the rear main, as you suspect, it could be leaking down from the rear of the intake manifold, or even from one of the oil galley plugs or the rear cam plug(rare).

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Joel Adams
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Re: oil drip from bellhouse hole (3/3)
10/4/18 11:51am

Reds82CE

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McKinney, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1982 Collector Edition, Silver-Beige metallic, 40000 miles and counting. 2015 Z51 Red Convertible

Joined: 4/8/2005
Posts: 192

Thanks Joel, a good fall/winter project to get underneath with a light and brake cleaner and see if the leak is coming off the rear of engine.

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