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Re: [Healeys] On the subject of oil leaks and racing

To: Harold Manifold <manifold@telus.net>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] On the subject of oil leaks and racing
From: Bob Begani via Healeys <healeys@autox.team.net>
Date: Sun, 2 May 2021 17:13:06 -0400
Cc: Gary Anderson <garyandersonmm@gmail.com>, healeys@autox.team.net, George Walker <goodstuff.17ft@gmail.com>
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: healeys@autox.team.net
References: <B0172C26-7EA0-4A5D-9DED-AE0DC94A9B04@hxcore.ol>
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Harold:

Thank you for the information and the only pictures I have seen of the rear I=

Of the engine, mounting plate and gasket. Know we know what to consider when=
 we remove the trans to replace the clutch disc and will remove the mounting=
 plate all next winter. Meanwhile I have installed a stainless steel bowl fi=
lled with oil absorbing sheets under the weep hole and the mounting plate to=
 catch the oil.  It is held up with outdoor extreme Velcro straps.=20

Thanks to everyone for there comments

Bob Begani

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 2, 2021, at 12:05 PM, Harold Manifold <manifold@telus.net> wrote:
>=20
> =EF=BB=BF
> Bob,
> =20
> I was at my local engine shop yesterday that has 3 Healey 6 cylinder engin=
es in various states of rebuild my engine being one of them. After reading a=
bout your situation I wanted to make sure mine would not experience any leak=
s. I took a few pictures and talked to the rebuilder. We identified 4 possib=
le points where oil can leak out and end up in the bottom of the bell housin=
g. These comments correspond to the numbers on the picture.
> =20
> The plug at the end of the oil gallery has been removed as part of preppin=
g the block for the hot tank. This shop replaces the pressed in plug with a t=
hreaded plug and commented the gasket is not sufficient if the plug is left o=
ut.
> The end of the camshaft area where the gasket is narrow. The recommendatio=
n is to prepare both surfaces as smooth as possible and use a small amount o=
f RTV sealant to help the seal.
> The infamous Archimedes=E2=80=99 screw, but should not be an issue if the r=
ear seal conversion was done properly. There is always the diaper solution.
> Too much material was removed from the rear mounting plate for the cranksh=
aft rear seal conversion and the opening is below the bottom of the gasket. T=
he rear mounting plate in this picture has been modified for the Dennis Welc=
h square rear seal and the minimum amount to fit he seal was removed. If you=
 compare the two pictures there is not much gasket area left and a small amo=
unt of RTV will help the seal.
> =20
> Unfortunately, there is no way to get to the root of the issue without rem=
oving the rear mounting plate.
> =20
> I hope this helps=E2=80=A6.. Harold
> =20
> From: Bob Begani via Healeys
> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2021 3:01 PM
> To: Gary Anderson; healeys@autox.team.net
> Cc: George Walker
> Subject: Re: [Healeys] On the subject of oil leaks and racing
> =20
> Gary:
> =20
> Thanks for your comments.  I had thought of such a diaper pan for my situa=
tion, until I can remove the transmission and try and fix the problem as the=
re is a very large puddle when coming to a halt after driving at high speeds=
 for a long distance.
> =20
> On the same note, my German friend who raced British and European cars men=
tioned that on one occasion in the middle of a race the amount of oil had ca=
used the clutch to slip.  One of the pit crew suggested that there may be a h=
ole in the top of the bell housing so you can pour diesel fuel through the h=
ole and flush the oil out off the clutch.  The car did have such a hole so t=
hey were able to keep it in the race.  I looked my BJ8 does not have a flush=
ing hole in the bell housing, so I must live with a slippage in 4th gear for=
 a while.
> =20
> Meanwhile, PVC system applying negative pressure in the crankcase has redu=
ced the leakage to a pint of oil every 100 miles at highway speed of 60 MPH a=
nd above   Not acceptable on a new rebuild. Either the Archimedes screw is n=
ot doing its=E2=80=99 job or the gasket or?
> =20
> =20
> 67 BJ8
> Bob Begani
> =20
> =20
> From: Healeys <healeys-bounces@autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Gary Anderson
> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2021 4:35 PM
> To: healeys@autox.team.net
> Subject: [Healeys] On the subject of oil leaks and racing
> =20
> Many years ago, at a panel during a Healey West Coast Meet in Oregon, I to=
ok the opportunity to ask Geoff Healey about the issue of oil dripping out o=
f the hole in the bottom of the bell housing when the car would come to a ha=
lt after driving a long distance.=20
> He gave us the general story that that was actually an intentional design f=
eature, with the reverse archimedes screw typically doing its job and slingi=
ng the oil back in the sump at the rear end of the crank shaft. Of course, w=
hen the car came to a halt, the oil pressure would reverse and some oil woul=
d seep into the bell housing. To deal with that, there is a hole in the bott=
om of the bellhousing so the oil doesn't pool up. To make sure the hole stay=
s open, a cotter pin is placed in the hole, with the legs projecting out the=
 bottom.
> =20
> But then he chuckled and told the following story. When he and Donald were=
 raising street versions of the first Hundreds at Le Mans -- generally for t=
he international publicity benefits -- they anticipated that the race stewar=
ds stationed as observers in each of the pits would notice the pool of oil w=
here the car had been sitting when it came in for a pit stop, which would ha=
ve been grounds for disqualification. So Roger Menadue fastened small pans, c=
ontoured to be fastened under the bell housing hole. During the race, the pa=
ns would be stuffed with diapers, and that would take care of catching the o=
il for several stops. During stops when the steward wasn't looking, a mechan=
ic would pull of a filled pan and fasten on a new empty pan. Worked like a c=
harm: no oil leaks in the pits and, as we know, the street-spec Healeys, com=
plete with bumpers and grilles, finished the race in respectable fashion, ga=
rnering good publicity and giving rise to the optional "Le Mans kit" that wa=
s available from DMHCO.
> =20
> And that's the rest of the story.
> =20
> Gary Anderson      =20
> =20
> <Back Plate Modification.jpg>
> <End of Block.jpg>

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<html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3D=
utf-8"></head><body dir=3D"auto">Harold:<div><br></div><div>Thank you for th=
e information and the only pictures I have seen of the rear I</div><div>Of t=
he engine, mounting plate and gasket. Know we know what to consider when we r=
emove the trans to replace the clutch disc and will remove the mounting plat=
e all next winter. Meanwhile I have installed a stainless steel bowl filled w=
ith oil absorbing sheets under the weep hole and the mounting plate to catch=
 the oil. &nbsp;It is held up with outdoor extreme Velcro straps.&nbsp;</div=
><div><br></div><div>Thanks to everyone for there comments</div><div><br></d=
iv><div>Bob Begani</div><div><br><div dir=3D"ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><=
div dir=3D"ltr"><br><blockquote type=3D"cite">On May 2, 2021, at 12:05 PM, H=
arold Manifold &lt;manifold@telus.net&gt; wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><=
blockquote type=3D"cite"><div dir=3D"ltr">=EF=BB=BF<meta http-equiv=3D"Conte=
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--></style><div class=3D"WordSection1"><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Bob,</p><p cla=
ss=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">I was at my loc=
al engine shop yesterday that has 3 Healey 6 cylinder engines in various sta=
tes of rebuild my engine being one of them. After reading about your situati=
on I wanted to make sure mine would not experience any leaks. I took a few p=
ictures and talked to the rebuilder. We identified 4 possible points where o=
il can leak out and end up in the bottom of the bell housing. These comments=
 correspond to the numbers on the picture.</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p>&n=
bsp;</o:p></p><ol style=3D"margin-top:0in" start=3D"1" type=3D"1"><li class=3D=
"MsoListParagraph" style=3D"margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">The plu=
g at the end of the oil gallery has been removed as part of prepping the blo=
ck for the hot tank. This shop replaces the pressed in plug with a threaded p=
lug and commented the gasket is not sufficient if the plug is left out.</li>=
<li class=3D"MsoListParagraph" style=3D"margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 l=
fo1">The end of the camshaft area where the gasket is narrow. The recommenda=
tion is to prepare both surfaces as smooth as possible and use a small amoun=
t of RTV sealant to help the seal.</li><li class=3D"MsoListParagraph" style=3D=
"margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">The infamous Archimedes=E2=80=99 s=
crew, but should not be an issue if the rear seal conversion was done proper=
ly. There is always the diaper solution.</li><li class=3D"MsoListParagraph" s=
tyle=3D"margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Too much material was remov=
ed from the rear mounting plate for the crankshaft rear seal conversion and t=
he opening is below the bottom of the gasket. The rear mounting plate in thi=
s picture has been modified for the Dennis Welch square rear seal and the mi=
nimum amount to fit he seal was removed. If you compare the two pictures the=
re is not much gasket area left and a small amount of RTV will help the seal=
.</li></ol><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal=
">Unfortunately, there is no way to get to the root of the issue without rem=
oving the rear mounting plate.</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></=
p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">I hope this helps=E2=80=A6.. Harold</p><p class=3D"=
MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><div style=3D"mso-element:para-border-div;bo=
rder:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class=
=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"border:none;padding:0in"><b>From: </b><a href=3D"mai=
lto:healeys@autox.team.net">Bob Begani via Healeys</a><br><b>Sent: </b>Frida=
y, April 30, 2021 3:01 PM<br><b>To: </b><a href=3D"mailto:garyandersonmm@gma=
il.com">Gary Anderson</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:healeys@autox.team.net";>healeys=
@autox.team.net</a><br><b>Cc: </b><a href=3D"mailto:goodstuff.17ft@gmail.com=
">George Walker</a><br><b>Subject: </b>Re: [Healeys] On the subject of oil l=
eaks and racing</p></div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p clas=
s=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot=
;,sans-serif">Gary:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D=
"font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">&nbsp;</span><o:=
p></o:p></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:18.0pt;font-fami=
ly:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Thanks for your comments.&nbsp; I had thoug=
ht of such a diaper pan for my situation, until I can remove the transmissio=
n and try and fix the problem as there is a very large puddle when coming to=
 a halt after driving at high speeds for a long distance.</span><o:p></o:p><=
/p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;=
Arial&quot;,sans-serif">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><=
span style=3D"font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">On t=
he same note, my German friend who raced British and European cars mentioned=
 that on one occasion in the middle of a race the amount of oil had caused t=
he clutch to slip.&nbsp; One of the pit crew suggested that there may be a h=
ole in the top of the bell housing so you can pour diesel fuel through the h=
ole and flush the oil out off the clutch.&nbsp; The car did have such a hole=
 so they were able to keep it in the race.&nbsp; I looked my BJ8 does not ha=
ve a flushing hole in the bell housing, so I must live with a slippage in 4<=
sup>th</sup> gear for a while.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><=
span style=3D"font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">&nb=
sp;</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:18.=
0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Meanwhile, PVC system applying=
 negative pressure in the crankcase has reduced the leakage to a pint of oil=
 every 100 miles at highway speed of 60 MPH and above &nbsp;&nbsp;Not accept=
able on a new rebuild. Either the Archimedes screw is not doing its=E2=80=99=
 job or the gasket or?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span sty=
le=3D"font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">&nbsp;</spa=
n><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:18.0pt;font=
-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3D=
"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sa=
ns-serif">67 BJ8</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"=
font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Bob Begani</span>=
<o:p></o:p></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:18.0pt;font-f=
amily:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3D"=
MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,san=
s-serif">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p><div style=3D"border:none;border-top:so=
lid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b><span=
 style=3D"font-size:18.0pt">From:</span></b><span style=3D"font-size:18.0pt"=
> Healeys &lt;healeys-bounces@autox.team.net&gt; <b>On Behalf Of </b>Gary An=
derson<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, April 30, 2021 4:35 PM<br><b>To:</b> healeys@=
autox.team.net<br><b>Subject:</b> [Healeys] On the subject of oil leaks and r=
acing</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-=
size:18.0pt">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span s=
tyle=3D"font-size:18.0pt">Many years ago, at a panel during a Healey West Co=
ast Meet in Oregon, I took the opportunity to ask Geoff Healey about the iss=
ue of oil dripping out of the hole in the bottom of the bell housing when th=
e car would come to a halt after driving a long distance.&nbsp;</span><o:p><=
/o:p></p><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:18.0pt">He gav=
e us the general story that that was actually an intentional design feature,=
 with the reverse archimedes screw typically doing its job and slinging the o=
il back in the sump at the rear end of the crank shaft. Of course, when the c=
ar came to a halt, the oil pressure would reverse and some oil would seep in=
to the bell housing. To deal with that, there is a hole in the bottom of the=
 bellhousing so the oil doesn't pool up. To make sure the hole stays open, a=
 cotter pin is placed in the hole, with the legs projecting out the bottom.<=
/span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-s=
ize:18.0pt">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><s=
pan style=3D"font-size:18.0pt">But then he chuckled and told the following s=
tory. When he and Donald were raising street versions of the first Hundreds a=
t Le Mans -- generally for the international publicity benefits -- they anti=
cipated that the race stewards stationed as observers in each of the pits wo=
uld notice the pool of oil where the car had been sitting when it came in fo=
r a pit stop, which would have been grounds for disqualification. So Roger M=
enadue fastened small pans, contoured to be fastened under the bell housing h=
ole. During the race, the pans would be stuffed with diapers, and that would=
 take care of catching the oil for several stops. During stops when the stew=
ard wasn't looking, a mechanic would pull of a filled pan and fasten on a ne=
w empty pan. Worked like a charm: no oil leaks in the pits and, as we know, t=
he street-spec Healeys, complete with bumpers and grilles, finished the race=
 in respectable fashion, garnering good publicity and giving rise to the opt=
ional "Le Mans kit" that was available from DMHCO.</span><o:p></o:p></p></di=
v><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:18.0pt">&nbsp;</span>=
<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:18=
.0pt">And that's the rest of the story.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p c=
lass=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:18.0pt">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p>=
</p></div></div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:18.0pt">Gary=
 Anderson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></p><p=
 class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p></div><div>&lt;Back Plate Modifica=
tion.jpg&gt;</div><div>&lt;End of Block.jpg&gt;</div></div></blockquote></di=
v></body></html>=

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