Help! Pretty bad oil leak 1980 spider

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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MIGHTY 8
Posts: 307
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 9:55 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider
Location: North Chatham NY

Help! Pretty bad oil leak 1980 spider

Post by MIGHTY 8 »

Hello
Had the cambox housing gasket replaced on the exhaust side due to an oil leak. Drove home from shop and it's now a MAJOR mess!!
Will return to same repair shop and have it corrected, but any ideas what other area (exhaust side) to check for that may be common for oil leaks?
Thank you all.
bobplyler
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Your car is a: 1979 spider 2000
Location: Charlotte, NC

Re: Help! Pretty bad oil leak 1980 spider

Post by bobplyler »

Distributor.
1979 Fiat Spider (since new)
2005 Lincoln LS (the wife's car)
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier (daily driver)
1999 Honda Shadow VLX 600
1972 Grumman Traveller 5895L (long gone).
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joelittel
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Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:53 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 FI
Location: Evanston, IL

Re: Help! Pretty bad oil leak 1980 spider

Post by joelittel »

Isn't there a head bolt or a header stud that can leak oil on the exhaust side?
MIGHTY 8
Posts: 307
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 9:55 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider
Location: North Chatham NY

Re: Help! Pretty bad oil leak 1980 spider

Post by MIGHTY 8 »

Thanks guys!
The distributor, I sure tried looking pretty close, but as far as I could tell it's ok.
I tried using the search function on this board, because I do recall reading about that header bolt you mentioned. However, to no avail...
I do believe it's coming a lot from the rear of the engine, and also mid way just below the exhaust manifold.
I'll continue searching.
Thanks again
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bradartigue
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Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:35 pm
Your car is a: 1970 Sport Spider
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Help! Pretty bad oil leak 1980 spider

Post by bradartigue »

Sounds like a stud. "Mechanics" may have loosened the stud and removed it, then tried to replace it as if it were a bolt. It (or they if they screwed up more than one) needs to be removed and properly replaced. If not the stud then they installed the gasket wrong.
MIGHTY 8
Posts: 307
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 9:55 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider
Location: North Chatham NY

Re: Help! Pretty bad oil leak 1980 spider

Post by MIGHTY 8 »

Headed there tomorrow to hopefully fix this issue.
Competent mechanic with several 124's of his own, reason I tend to use (and trust) his services.
Showed me the previous gasket where it was torn, leading us both to believe that should have resolved the initial leak.

Thanks again.... :?
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