Effective rear main oil seal in a '57 283?

[Perry M.]

Re: Conclusion Redux... wherein I am covered with shame.

Well there you go. At least you didn't remove the pan and seal again. Way back when I was a kid I rebuilt the 340 HP motor that was in my 57 Bel Air. It leaked oil bad. I finally located the leak from behind the flywheel. The machine shop I used installed all the freeze plugs and cam bearings. What they didn't do was install the rear cam plug. I was young and this was my first rebuild. Learn from our mistakes.

[David G.]

Re: Effective rear main oil seal in a '57 283?

I am surprised that one of us knuckleheads didn't mention that possibility. It isn't really that uncommon.
Many years ago I overhauled (out of chassis) an 855 Cummins engine. The machine shop left one of the rear
plugs out and I did not catch it. Big mistake. After starting, the engine would only build up a couple of pounds
of oil pressure. Costly lesson.