Help Needed; Oil leaking from 1110879 Distributor

[Jim K.]

I am having trouble with my 56 1110879 2x4 Dist. leaking oil from the relief hole under the top main casing. I rebuilt the distributor myself a couple of years ago and up until a week ago I didn't notice any oil leak. Now the oil is pouring out of this relief hole and pooling up on the intake manifold just driving a short distance. It is in my original 265 2x4 motor that was rebuilt two years ago. Has anyone had this problem ? and what was done to correct it ? I will be pulling it apart tomorrow to see what I can find. Is it Ok to run a 1110891 distributor in my 265, the only difference I can see is the 879 has the flat towards the botom of the shaft and the 891 does not. Any help is much appreciated . Thanks, Jim

[Timothy B.]

Re: Help Needed; Oil leaking from 1110879 Distributor

Jim,

This may not be able to help but how much oil pressure does the engine have. Could excess pressure go up the shaft and overcome the seal.

[Scott S.]

Re: Help Needed; Oil leaking from 1110879 Distributor

Jim, You may not get oil up to the rockers without the flat area.
Scott

[William C.]

Re: Help Needed; Oil leaking from 1110879 Distributor

Also, there is no seal that I am aware of in a typical V8 Chevy Distributor. I'd look for a buildup of "crud" in the drainback area of the block to be causing your problem?

[Jim K.]

Re: Help Needed; Oil leaking from 1110879 Distributor

Tim; Oil pressure is 30-35lbs at idle and 60lbs when running normal speed. We did put a heavier spring in the oil pump when we did the rebuild to ensure lots of oil to the rockers. I have around 2000 miles on the motor now since rebuild and this leak just started showing up a couple of weeks ago so I don't think too much pressure is the cause. Thanks for your input

[Jim K.]

Re: Help Needed; Oil leaking from 1110879 Distributor

Scott; I would like to try the 891 in the motor while I decide what to do with the 879 . When I rebuilt the motor I had a new cam notched out according to articles written about 265 top end oiling issues and we also put a heavier spring in the oil pump to give us more pressure. Do you think not having the flat area on the 891 would still cause not enough oil to get to the rockers ? Thanks for your comments, Jim

[Dick W.]

Re: Help Needed; Oil leaking from 1110879 Distributor

Tim; Oil pressure is 30-35lbs at idle and 60lbs when running normal speed. We did put a heavier spring in the oil pump when we did the rebuild to ensure lots of oil to the rockers. I have around 2000 miles on the motor now since rebuild and this leak just started showing up a couple of weeks ago so I don't think too much pressure is the cause. Thanks for your input

Way more oil pressure than needed for a street engine. 40# would be more than adequate for normal speeds.

[Jim T.]

Re: Help Needed; Oil leaking from 1110879 Distributor

Jim in a previous posting on the 265 there was information about the 265's camshaft or oil pump and how it effected oiling of the engine. I cannot remember the details, but since you mentioned your 265 was rebuilt 2 years ago the information about the oiling of the 265 may be helpful. I bought a 55 Chevy 2 dr sedan in the 60's and the 265 ran very well, but did not oil the rockers. I was not aware of an oiling problem like the one I mentioned with the 265 with my young 16 year old mind. I replaced my 265 with a very good low mileage 57 283.

This post was sent last night just after 11pm, but server was to busy to post.

[Jim K.]

Re: Help Needed; Oil leaking from 1110879 Distributor

Bill; By drainback area do you mean the road drafttube that comes out the rear top of the block and runs down behind the starter ? You are right about there being no seal in the distributor. I disasembled it and found only a flat washer under the weight housing that sits on top of the brass bushing in the cast housing. I did find quite a bit of wear/score marks on the dist. shaft where it goes through the bushing at the top of the housing. Although there does not seam to be alot of play between the shaft and the bushing, maybe the oil has slowly worked it's way up into the bottom of the housing and has reached the level of the relief hole. I may be looking at new bushings and a new shaft to correct the problem. What do you think ? Can you recommend anyone to do this job ? Thanks for the help, Jim

[William C.]

Re: Help Needed; Oil leaking from 1110879 Distributor

I think you have found the cause of your problem, you need a rebuild in the distributor, new bushings and possible shaft. I'd look at "Hemmings" for a candidate in the "services" section. I haven't done a total rebuild on an early one lke yours, but if the shaft is ok, the bushings are easy to change if you can get the proper replacements.

[John S.]

Re: Help Needed; Oil leaking from 1110879 Distributor

Jim in a previous posting on the 265 there was information about the 265's camshaft or oil pump and how it effected oiling of the engine. I cannot remember the details, but since you mentioned your 265 was rebuilt 2 years ago the information about the oiling of the 265 may be helpful. I bought a 55 Chevy 2 dr sedan in the 60's and the 265 ran very well, but did not oil the rockers. I was not aware of an oiling problem like the one I mentioned with the 265 with my young 16 year old mind. I replaced my 265 with a very good low mileage 57 283.

This post was sent last night just after 11pm, but server was to busy to post.

the groove in the camshaft of a 265 allows for proper oiling to get to the heads. should have nothing to do with distributor

[Edward M.]

Re: Help Needed; Oil leaking from 1110879 Distributor

The position of the distributor flat will impact oiling to the heads. If the distributor is turned too far in one direction, oil will not get to both heads. Identifying which wire is #1 does make a difference with 55-56 distributors. I made an oiling tool out of an old 847 distributor. While spinning the oiling tube with a drill, rotating the distributor counter-clockwise cuts off oil to the passenger side head. The correct reference is shown in the 56 Passenger car assembly manual or the 56-57 Corvette assembly manual.

[William K.]

Re: Help Needed; Oil leaking from 1110879 Distributor

JIM person who says has original sales invoice for your RE: 1956 Corvette VIN E56S002291

Lance Hill was a salesman that sold Corvettes in the old days at Gorries Chevrolet in Toronto

per Corvette Registry C1 cars he indicates he has original sales invoice for your car

i.e.
https://www.c1registry.com/1956 Corvette Registry

VIN E56S002291

Car Year: 1956 Car's approximate birthday: May 4, 1956
Owner: Unknown Owner

Car history: I have an original sales doc for this car

The person who put this information on the C1 registry was a former Corvette salesman at Gorries Chevrolet in old days) :
LANCE HILL


bigblackdogs@xplornet.com

(note : in the C1 registry if you click on the red writing "Unknown Owner"

you will get "bigblackdogs@xplornet.com"

(note: Lance indicated to me by e mail that he gave all his Corvette sales invoice records to :
Jim Gessner
Call Jim at 909-794-7905 or email
jim@vettefinderjim.com
> Jim Gressner
> v.vettefinderjim@verizon.net
>Jim Gessner
P.O. Box 1372
BANDERA, TEXAS 78003
909-557-4870c
Central Time 8AM-5PM please
www.registryofcorvetteracecars.com
www.vettefinderjim.com













Hope it works out ok for you

Best wishes

Bill keogh
NCRS #1610
E mail: wllmkeogh@yahoo.com
Tel: 905-8712341
Fort Erie Ontario


















































LANCE HILL


bigblackdogs@xplornet.com

Lance

You indicate on the Corvette C1 Registry that 1956 Corvette VIN E56S002291
was an export to Canada car and that you have original sales invoice for it

The car is presently owned in Canada by : JIM KISH of the
Niagara Corvette Club
Ridley Post Office
P.O. Box 30067
St. Catharines, ON L2S 4A1
HOWEVER : GM canada records (see attached) indicate that the car was not delivered to Canada as a new car

Please be kind enough to explain

Thanks

Bill Keogh
NCRS #1610

E mail: wllmkeogh@yahoo.com
Tel: 905-8712341

[John D.]

Re: Help Needed; Oil leaking from 1110879 Distributor

Jim, Don Baker can restore our distributor. Providing you are not in a hurry. Call him at 815-498-9522. Mention my name.
I did not read all the replies. If you are running a stock engine fuel pump that causes leaks also. If you shaft and bushings are worn out that may cause leaks. John D.