EngineerJay

I have been noticing a surge in oil pressure as well as drops on the ground, so I got my '71 on ramps and took a peak underneath. I put paper underneath the car to try to pin point locations of leaks. I noticed one on the drivers side rear of the engine block by the spark plug.

Could this one be coming from the valve cover? the top of the cover looks clean, but im not sure where else it could be coming from.

I also noticed a leak further back around the middle of the car. I don't know if putting the car on ramps caused this one but it is coming from here.

I am not sure what it is, not finding it right away in the AIM. But the fluid dripping is reddish in color.


Any advice/help on the two leaks would be appreciated!

Also an additional question unrelated to the leaks. My '71 had the 78 front spoiler on it, is there a stock spoiler that is supposed to be on it?

Thanks for the help!

Jay

Alan 71

Hi Jay,
I'll take the easier question... yes 71 cars all had a black plastic spoiler about 2" deep installed on them. I believe it was there to help direct air up through the openings in the front valance toward the radiator.
They're available in reproduction but don't fit quite as well at each end as the originals did.
Regards,
Alan

gq82

The red liquid is either transmission fluid or ps fluid....leaks are somtimes hard to trace. I would start by snugging up both the valve cover and transmission pan bolts.

toolman1981

I had a leak that presented much like you described. It was coming from the oil pressure sending unit. My car has electrical gaues but I would imagine the mechanical would be in the same place. Top center of the block just behind the distributor.

EngineerJay

Toolman1981, you may be right, there had been a small pool of oil under the distributed.

toolman1981

Funny thing is I had already changed my valve cover gaskets, and pulled the intake before I noticed it!!

Drawmain

I'm thinking your reddish leak is transmission fluid, and from the location near the crossmember I'd check the speedometer cable mount.