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Can the head gasket leak oil from the lifter valley on a small block chevy?
I have got a SERIOUS oil leak coming from both sides of the block in the rear. I just replaced the intake gasket today, I really dont think its the intake gasket. It looks like it is coming from lower than the intake and below the valve cover. I have aluminum heads and have run quite abit of nitrous through the motor is it just time the replace the head gaskets?

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower...and that's kind of the same thing...

Check to see if you are leaking on the corners. I hope you didn't use those sorry excuse for seals for the ends and used silicone sealer and if so you still could have a leak .Try cleaning the motor so you can see where it is leaking.Oh and a leak from the corners will look ugly.

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

I also take a punch and "stake" the block (make punch marks in the flat part )on the front and back to give the sealer or gaskets something to grab . 6 or 7 will help this problem .

I have built lots of small blocks and have never run into this problem before. It pours down both sides of the block but it doesnt look like it starts until mid way of where the heads starts. This time I used The Right Stuff silicone from permetex its supposed to be the best. I have got to get it torn apart again and take closer look something is not right. So you guys think its from the intake?

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower...and that's kind of the same thing...

Clean and check closely as oil will migrate down along the head gasket leaving you to think it is coming from some where else also check the valve covers as this to could be a problem. Get some brake clean and clean everything good and dry then check the corners or the intake and the valve covers in front as the oil will migrate front to rear.

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

Thanks guys, its probably the intake gasket. It could be just the mating surfaces that need attention. Just thought I would ask I have never seen one that was such a a pain to get to seal.

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower...and that's kind of the same thing...

GM has a silicone sealer that WORKS its not cheap but the neat part is as it cure it expands and fill any little flaw believe me the stuff is great its black and smells like ammonia.

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

Make sure your valvecovers arent the culprit too.. I chased down so many leaks like what you described and was always the dumb valve cover gaskets!

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LUV Truck Desserter!
76 Daily driver (SOLD)
73 LUV (rusting away at the moment)
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63 Nova
74 Camaro

Here is how I find leaks on Helicopters.


Clean the area with brakeleen, let dry for a hour. Pour baby powder in the area of the leak, make a mess, if alittle is good allot is better, I mean it let the stuff fly. Go test drive it and the leak will leave a perfect stream to the source.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

Thanks guys I will try to work on it tomorrow I have just kinda of got frustrated and left it alone, The lake has been calling my name and I am going ALL weekend so if it is going to get fixed I have to it before friday.

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower...and that's kind of the same thing...

Yep those pain in the a$$ valve covers. They were sucked inwards on the rear of both valve covers. Sometimes its the simple stuff. Fixed the problem with the steel cored gaskets. I got the motor a little hot when the serpentine belt broke maybe this was the reason as to why it happened.

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower...and that's kind of the same thing...

Cool, so how bout making a run down 12th street to test it out

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FIAA: Color Guard

Will do!

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower...and that's kind of the same thing...

So, roll her in flour and look for the wet spot, huh?

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower...and that's kind of the same thing...