Well while I realize this thread has sort of died, I still figure I will share updates as they come. If not for yall, at least somewhere for me to document things to reference later when I inevitably forget what I did.

A few weeks ago come home from cars n coffee I noticed a large oil spot in the shop where the car typically sits. So I put it on the lift to clean all the oil up so I could try to locate the leak. While the car was on the lift, my fiance got the bright idea to "check the tires for nails". I reminded here that if you look for nails in the tires, you find nails in the tires. Sure enough, found a screw in one of the tires, so new tires were in the works. Went with a set of Falken Azenis RT660s in 245/40/15. I did also have the wheels powdercoated, despite the potential risk of PCing wheels, let alone 6uls that are already prone to cracking. Fingers crossed they hold together without issue. I did have a 5th wheel, so I had that done in Hawaii Blue to just use as wall art in the shop, and I sorta regret not doing all the wheels that color.

To the oil leak, when I assembled the motor, I did not own the front main seal installation tool, so we just winged it. Somewhere along the way (I suspect a long time ago) a leak developed, and just got worse and worse over time. Got myself some oil dye and a UV light, let the car run for all of 2 minutes before the leak started to present itself under the UV light, confirmed bad front main seal. So I ripped everything apart yesterday, and will hopefully re assemble today. Thankfully I already had a new OEM seal on hand.

photo dump

 

This whole front main seal leak has had me thinking about a possible culprit. When I got everything torn down I was able to push the seal back in by hand, so it was extremely loose. While improper installation was likely part of the problem, I am curious if excess crankcase pressure likely plaid a role in the seal blowing out as well. Thoughts? I have not done any modifications to the valve cover yet and am still running a (GTX?) PCV. I should probably go ahead and knock that out while the valve cover is off.

 

Possible for sure! Easy mode on this is the Quikvent solution, I picked one up in the spring but havent gotten around to installing it -- used in the honda world for a long time

https://level7performance.com/produc...rsion-3-black/

I am going to do my AN lines over the winter and run it next season, but thought id toss the idea your way; doesnt get much easier

 

Thanks for that suggestion, I think I may give that a shot. I know I need to reconfigure my catch can setup, and drill out the valve cover ports and port out the baffle passages. So this could deff aid in venting everything.

 

Mebbe. How does the vertical location of the pickup of the cap compare with the stock location. It might be susceptible to picking up liquid oil compared to the path that the screened vapours travel in a properly modified VC. From memory that location is right over a valve lobe, and the mess when my oil cap was left off does not bode well for that being a good location.

 

That's what im wondering, too.
I really like the idea, but I need some proof it actually works and it won't fill your catch can up very quickly. We could use a scavenge pump to keep it always empty

 

Ill be the dummy, erm, test dummy

 

Decided to just go ahead and drill and tap both ports and drill out the passage between internal baffles on the valve cover while everything was apart. Easy process for the most part, only concern is how thin the non PCV side threads are and hoping it will actually seal. Going to run each side to a vented can since I already had the dual radium can setup, just need to order another breather.

 

Got the valve cover back on, each side plumbed to their own vented catch can, just waiting for the second filter for the second can. Got the car fired up after the font main seal swap and so far the only leak/issue was a dribble of coolant out of the upper radiator hose. Should just need snugged up a bit more and tightened. Easy fix

While I had the car on the lift I decided to try and get this LRB undertray mounted up.that's been sitting on the shelf for the last year. Realized I'm gonna have to weld some tabs onto my V8R subframe and raise my intercooler core about 2" to get it installed. Hopefully get that done in the next few days.