This car has been in the family for awhile and has finally been passed down to me.





I'm still a bit of a newbie when it comes to cars, so I don't know the best way to fix the oil leak:


I've gotten the car running. Going to work on the carb and see if I can make it a bit more reliable so I can drive to/from work (it stalls a lot).

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~Less think, more do

Nice car...is the "oil leak" you spoke of the one around the valve cover or are you talking about the oil you see on the spark plug threads? The valve cover appears (unless my eyes deceive me) to be missing some bolts. Check to see if the pcv valve near the rear of your valve cover is working. Pull it out and shake it. If you hear a rattle, it is o.k. Next make sure hose from that to the carb is unobstructed. Take the filler cap off the front of the valve cover and soak it in something to remove the crud surely built up inside it. I used to use gasoline but the environmentalists put me on their hit list. Next and this is important...Look at the point where your spark plugs enter the heads. Is there an aluminum tube there with a small gasket sealing it to the head? The tubes simply slip out and the gaskets look like a big "O" ring. You can find replacements at most parts houses. If not go to rockauto.com. If the tubes are present, you don't need the washers, so remove them from your plugs. Clean the plugs, gap them properly, and reinstall them. I got the following advice from a very sage member on this board and I am glad I followed it: "Locate a Technical Service Manual" for your car. Buy it, and read it. Keep in mind this manual is not one of the Chilton variety you find in bookstores. Do a search on this site and I am sure you can locate one. Keep us posted please on your progress. There are many much more informed gents here than I.

hey... that spark plug looks like the ones i pulled out of my car... >.> did u did through my trash??

also, look into maybe throwing a 2 bbl setup on the beast, it can be a bit expensive but from what i hear and what i am doing its worth it if your carb is shot *like mine is*.

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74 plymouth duster, 225 single barrel slant six

Your spark plug is wet with black. Make sure it is not oil burning which need to check is PCV, change oil etc.

Dry sooty black is too much fuel or lost compression. (adjust valves?)

Cheers, Wizard

Goodman,

I'm talking about both the oil around the plugs and the oil on valve cover. I double checked and I believe the "missing" bolts are mount points for something. I'm kinda curious what would be mounted there... (I'll put up a picture later...)

PCV valve rattled. There are aluminum tubes around each spark plug, so that is good.

I will look into the filler cap tomorrow and book. Thank you for the help!

Wizard,

I'm sure it needs a valve adjustment. I'll have to research how that is done as I have never done it before.

I got the carb off (Cart 3838 1 BBL) and disassembled. There was a lot of black gunk in there (probably normal). Cleaned it out with carb cleaner, adjusted the floats, replaced the gaskets and the plunger looking thing. It does run better, but the carb leaks gas out the front and one of the hoses desenigrate in my hands. I'll look into that tomorrow.

Thanks everyone!

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~Less think, more do

Great car!

I think your car came w/ a road draft tube in the rear vent on the valve cover. If the oil you are talking about is on the body/wrench flats on the sperk plug, maybe you need new gaskets on your spark plug tubes. As far as cleaning the element in the oil breather, this is a necessary maintenance item to prevent smoke under the hood.

I'm guessing that the vacuum line in the road tube vent is an attempt to eliminate excess smoke leaving the vent. If it is, then you probably need rings. A pressurized crankcase means only one thing.

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1960 Seneca 225 turbo soon to be EFI

I've purchased several different Technical Service Manuals from Paul Politis. He sells periodically on Ebay and from his own website. On Ebay this morning I located item 270584806231 which appears to be the manual that you need. I never buy the CD version of these manuals, cause I like paper reading material in front of me when I'm in the shop. I don't know of any item that mounts to your valve cover other than the item holding the two heater hoses. The spare 1965 engine I have does not have a road draft tube and neither does my 1965. The condition of the spark plug you showed us could be the result of several things. Looks like you are on the right track. Replace any questionable hoses while you are bringing your engine to life, too.

65 had a PCV valve, not a road tube. A big problem that needs to be checked is the passage in the carb, the PCV hose connects to. The passage makes a 90 degree turn inside the carb, and gets pluged up with sludge. The carb must be removed, then take a drill bit (by hand) and clean the passage from the bottom up, as well as from the side in. Also make sure the carb base gasket is installed correctly. The 1/4 inch hole in the gasket, must line up with the 1/4 inch PCV hole in the base of the carb. Also make sure the hose is not plugged.

I would also put new "O" rings on the spark plug tubes. They can be ordered from any parts store. Fel Pro number ES12794, about $1.00 each.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Here are more pictures of the mount points:



It looks like to me that the valve cover has all the bolts. As for heater hoses, they are only attached to the radiator and at the firewall.

Here is another picture of the gasket/"O"-ring, which is what I believe y'all are talking about (Is it?):


I replaced the vacuum hoses and WOW did that help. Then I adjusted idle screw, idle and fast idle. Now (after the engine warms up) when I step on the gas it doesn't stall W00T! Thanks guys!

I do want that manual, but $55 seem steep to me.

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~Less think, more do

In case you didn't know this already, you are missing the choke.

Well, you are making some progress. My old eyes can't quite make the spark plug out clearly. Is that a washer on it? If it is, get rid of it! Your heater hoses are connected to the front of the engine, not the radiator. Close. Does your carb have a choke. Looking at one of the photos, I see an empty pocket where a choke would be located. I know $55 seems steep, but believe me, the book is well worth it. Periodically you can find a used one here and on ebag....