puddle of oil

[1972zed]

my 72 z is pretty much a project car (my second 240z). I very much have my hands full with other things and don't get much time to work on it. Its a toy.

2 years ago, I left it at a transmission shop over the winter to have a clutch installed. When I picked it up last spring, I coudn't get it going. It woudn't start, tried every thing (ultimately I think it was stale gas). This spring I finally got it going, but pulled the alternator off, and only put it back on yesterday.

I started it up (runs nicely), but a huge puddle of oil formed under the rear of the engine/front of the transmission. It to be blunt is leaking like a sieve.

It never leaked before I took it to the transmission shop, I felt around underneath, and it could be one of two or three things but primarily, I suspect the f*&king transmission shop didnt put all the bolts back in the bottom of the bell housing.

question, ARE there supposed to be bolts at the bottom corner where the transmission and engine go together (this is somewhat rhetorical since there is a bolt hole in the engine side and one on the transmission side) right where the bolt appears to be missing. And if one of these was missing, would the engine/transmission leak that much oil? Where would the oil be from - engine or transmission, (the motor oil doesn't seem to have dropped any)? AND finally, if my suspicion is correct, what size bolt to I need to buy to replace this. After two years, Im not even going back to the shop on this.

[Arne]

If you are talking about the bolts that connect the front of the bell housing to the rear engine plate, that is not your problem. You see, there's not supposed to be oil in there at all. The clutch chamber runs dry.

Best guess - either the engine rear main seal, or (probably more likely) the transmission front input seal. Either way, the transmission is going to have to come out again.

[1972zed]

ya, I couldn't figure out why oil would be in there, I don't know much about clutches but I know oil would cause problems there. Thanks,

[1972zed]

ok $300 to replace the seal... are these relatively easy to replace?

[7277]

Best guess - either the engine rear main seal, or (probably more likely) the transmission front input seal. Either way, the transmission is going to have to come out again.

is it transmission fluid or engine oil? you can tell as they smell very differently.

.....Either way, the transmission is going to have to come out again...

..agreed

[1972zed]

I am now planning on selling this car. I have a guy lined up to put the seal in for me.

I now need to find a Canadian supplier. It seems most places do not stock them anymore or if they do, they don't have part numbers going back that far.

Black Dragon says the same rear engine main oil seal is used up to 1978 (I am taking their word for it). Their price is ok, $12.95. But I have a hard time paying $25 for shipping plus duty for a $12.95 part. Courtesy Nissan was higher.

Any Canadians out there please give me a local supplier? I would appreciate it.

[zKars]

I'll look tonight and see if I have a spare. I'm in Calgary.

Yours for the price of the stamp if I have one.

Jim