steel tube between the case leaking

[rdane]

Hi Guys,

I have a '79 3.0 case that refuses to stop leaking at the steel tube that is inserted in the case by the oil cooler. No idea what it is called but the pesky thing drives me crazy and covers the back of my car with a fine screen oil after a few miles.

I am told this is a common problem most often sealed up by using jb weld. Two shops have now fixed it but it still leaks.

Anyone got a sure fire 100% fix for this outside of having to buy a new case?

One idea I heard was to heli arc the aluminum case over the steel tube. Sounds risky.

Appreciate the help from any one who has had and fixed the same problem.

TIA
Dane

[smestas]

I put epoxy there durring my rebuild and so far so good. I have read previous threads on people having them welded as you mentioned.

Source of Oil Leak

[ChrisBennet]

I've had one welded with the case totally split. My mechanic buddy said he hadn't had any luck epoxying them because of all the oil in the metal so I welded mine however John Walker seems to have had success.
-Chris

[rdane]

Great info guys and thanks.
Good picture of the little bastard on one of the links.

John Walker may have had success but we has not after several tries with the Wurth epoxy 2000.

John, if you have time, are you always pulling the oil cooler to do both sides and what are you cleaning the case with to get it all to hold ?

I was thinking a piece of aluminum stock cut to shape and then welded in place instead of doing a bead build up. Is Dean around to share his solution in more detail?

I would think pulling the oil cooler would be madatory at a minimum just to keep from cooking the seals on the oil cooler and case then having that leak later on.

What other kinds of really bad things can happen if you are welding on an assembled engine that has not been torn down? A nice ground spark on one of the bearings would really ruin your day down the road I bet.

The discussion so far has been to leave the oil cooler and engine in the car and weld it up there. I am thinking that is a really bad idea with a whole bucket of problems it could bring on.

Is the best way to pull the engine and oil cooler and weld both sides?

Thoughts?

[john walker's workshop]

there's another area just like the outer one under the cooler, so if you want to do both, the cooler has to come off. so far for me, JB weld and a piece of duct tape to keep it in place until it sets has worked, so far. clean it well with brake clean and blow dry several times before applying the epoxy.

[rdane]

Thanks John I was just asking you the specifics in my last post...appreciate you jumping in. That **** works for us this time I owe you a case of beer and a pizza