Ben3339

Hey guys, I'm new to working on cars and bought an old one for the sole purpose of learning. I've got a really terrible oil leak on my 1996 Corvette LT1. Leak appears to be either the oil pan gasket or (from what I've read the notorious) front seal. I think I can do the oil pan gasket first and see if that solves the problem, if not then on to the front seal..

Anybody in the Charleston, SC area willing to help me with the front seal if it comes to that? Just from reading the Haynes manual(working i'm getting the GM manual soon) it seems to be involved and there's a lot of room for a newbie like me to make things even worse.

I'm in the military and have a shop on base I can use, otherwise I'm willing to drive 100 miles or so. Willing to buy you a case of your favorite beer for your help!(or pay if that is necessary)

Any advice is also welcome!

BALLSS

leaking pan gasket is rare. I would first confirm source of leak.

your post says "front seal" and the most likely seal leaking is the WP drive seal. You need to pull the Opti, WP and whatever else you have to on a Vette to get those 2 things off. a "tool" be it the right marker pen top or one you buy on ebay for around $20 or deep socket the right size is needed to put the WP drive seal on. Basically a "sleeve" type tool that fits on the spline end so seal will slide on without folding inner lip over. There are several write ups on how to, just install that seal dry, no oil

clean motor and drive some to see if you can see where leak is coming from. Leaks migrate down so oil pan may look to be source but typically the leak is above that.

It could also be valve covers or front intake gasket.

If it was me I would really confirm source before swapping a pan gasket

mab6680

iTrader: (1)

i use the sleeve that connects the WP to the drive gear to install the seal