The oil pan and oil filter were removed for inspection. I didn't find any parts, pieces or metal shavings in the bottom of the pan and that's good. I did find what looks like sludge though. We have a fresh built motor and fresh oil so the sludge makes no sense. I decided the only thing it can be is the zinc additive ZDDP. ZDDP is recommended for older engines to help lubricate the solid lifters and the cam. If you think the sludge is something else let me know.
Dennis K put me on to this neat product. It's a one piece pan gasket made by Fel-Pro. The pan gasket on a small block Chevy is usually four pieces that require silicone at all the joints. This gasket is installed dry, has inserts in all the bolt holes to prevent over torquing, and it should solve the oil leak we have near the bell housing.
It's hard to see, but the black area in the middle of the photograph is the underside of the birdcage. This area will never be seen by anyone because the frame rail covers it up. None the less, both sides were painted with Eastwood's Rust Encapsulator, a very durable chassis paint. It was tough to get at but it's done.
Remember this? It's the last rusted area we fixed on the bird cage. The metal was repaired but we never fixed the fiberglass floor.
To make the repair the duct-tape in the middle was used as a form. Fiberglass goes over the top of this duct tape. The ring of duct-tape along the bottom is used as a dam to collect excess resin. Between the two the fiberglass repair should be fine.
To understand this picture you have to remember that our resin is clear. Click on the picture and you'll see the duct-tape form is on the backside of the fiberglass repair.
Here it is a day later. Now all I have to do is remove the duct tape. Fiberglass does not stick to duct tape so the job should be simple.
It worked great. A little grinding here and there and the floor will be ready for Dynamat.
And finally, look what we have. Grey spoke American Racing Torque Thrust D's made in the USA. These are more "period correct" than the chrome wheels we currently have on the Corvette. I will put these grey wheels on the Corvette, then put the chrome wheels on our newly acquired Nomad, then sell those old Cragars that are currently on the Nomad. It's time the Cragars go and this is my method.
We have lost a very important part of this build. It's unfortunate and I am bummed about it. That will be the subject of our next post.
