hupp

My '79 has recently developed a nice little cam tower bolt oil leak, and I only have about 1000mi on a new gasket install! The leak appeared a few weeks back - bottom of the driver's side cam tower, second bolt from the front (just above the 5th cylinder exhaust port). I was able to re-torque the bolt -- well as best I could. It was impossible for me to put a torque wrench on the bolt due to space. The leak stopped for a couple hundred miles, but now its back and worse. The oil runs (not a drip) down the exhaust manifold and emits a good smoke screen.

I tried to re-torque again but I cannot get an allen wrench on the bolt in a point where I would have enough leverage to torque. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Also, could this be a gasket failure rather than a simple re-torque? Does it seem logical for a gasket to seal fine for 1000mi the fail? I REALLY do not want to pull the cam tower off....

Gretch

"I REALLY do not want to pull the cam tower off...."

But, in your heart, you already know the answer.....

hupp

Unfortunately, Gretch, yes I do.... BUT there is still some hope. Rather than continuing my effort at re-torquing I decided to loosen just to see what I had. The bolt loosened with minimal effort and with a short allen key. I completely removed the bolt and discovered that I had been slowly rounding the flats. What I thought was re-torque was actually me stripping the bolt. Wheeew, this could have been much worse!

I'll order a new bolt and have another go at it later.

IcemanG17

If you can fix it without pulling the cam tower...then you did really well!

hupp

Good News! New bolt in and re-torqued -- oil leak is history! I'll keep an eye on it for now. No long trips until I'm convinced its gone for good.

abbzer0

Good to hear that. It made me sick reading through this thread and thinking about all the work you might have had ahead of you (again!).

BC

gaskacinch and a non-oily gasket will buy us a few years.