BTDT. What probably happened is that the assembly was not perfectly
centered when you tightened it down. Even after you have started the
threads on the center bolt it still has some side-to-side play. It is
very easy to get one edge of the assembly caught on the outer surface of
the block (not the sealing surface), and then torque down the bolt. There
is no way to "see" the surfaces, and it's an odd angle anyway, so you
don't suspect anything. At least you didn't try to drive away and leave a
trail down the whole driveway into the street (like I did).
Probably no harm done. Just get back in there, clean it up, and this time
keep wiggling the assembly as you tighten the bolt by hand, and you
should be able to feel if it catches on something, and when it is fully
seated. Or get someone to hold it in place for you while you tighten the
bolt from underneath.
Oh, and I found that the oil absorbent product that they sell at the auto
parts store actually is slightly more effective than kitty litter, at
least than the clumping kind which is what I had. And it was cheaper,
too... apparently pet supplies are marked up more than auto supplies. Not
often you find something that's actually less expensive when specialized
for your LBC.
Gary R Hacker had this to say:
>For the past month or so I have had an oil leak that seemed to originate
>from the oil filter area. I have a 75 MGB with the inverted oil
>filter. Hoping for a simple solution, I changed the oil line from the
>block to the filter head, tightened the filter assembly to the block,
>and even changed the oil filter (less than 500 miles on the last oil
>change). Still had oil collecting in the castle rail where it meets the
>fire wall and oil underneath the oil filter assembly. Looking in the
>Moss catalogue, I saw that there was a rubber gasket that fits where the
>filter assembly mounts to the block. Got a new one from Moss and
>yesterday attacked what I thought would be the solution to the leak.
>Pulled the oil filter, oil line and filter assembly. Aha! No gasket
>present. Using a little non hardening gasket cement to hold the gasket
>in place, carefully replacing filter assembly and bolting to block.
>Pushed the car into the driveway to start it up and check for leaks. I
>started it up. No oil pressure. Shut it off and looked in engine
>compartment and under car. The Exxon Valdez has nothing on my MG.
>Quickly pushed car back into garage and sent son for largest bag of
>kiity litter available (Thanks for the tip Barney). I have obviously
>failed to do something right. I thought I had the gasket properly
>placed but I now have my doubts. Anybody done this before? Any and all
>ideas and suggestions appreciated.
>
>Bob Hacker
>1975 MGB
>Vancouver, Washington
>
>
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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