So I've nailed the ignition problem I had. Fires up fine, but seems to idle high. Haven't adjusted anything on the carb yet.

Now a new problem. When I fire her up, she's dumping oil from somewhere down below. I initially thought that the oil filter was way loose, but that's not the case. Doesn't leak when the engine's not running.

Probably losing about a quart of oil every 10-15 seconds, really coming out, but I can't (from under the car) figure out where exactly it's coming from. Engine did not do that before being pulled from the previous car. Was rebuilt a few thousand miles ago (but many years ago) and I kept the engine and trans together when I pulled it.

 

It's really easy to break the oil sending unit when changing the motor.
Looks like it's from the bottom, but it runs down real fast - check it out!
Unless the oil filter is loose!

 

I will go check the filter (again) and the sending unit now. Really hard to tell where this problem is coming from!

 

Well the 394 in my 59 had low oil pressure due to galley plugs being missing. In the process of trying to get it started I created an explosion in the crankcase...yeah I left the key on and I pulled the distributer cause it was 180 degrees out. I guess the crancase was full of gas vapors and when the rotor turned a spark was sent down and kaboom.... well the oil cap flew about 10 feet into the air and the cover under the intake manifold is bowed up. I got it running to find a massive oil leak from the rear of engine. I looked at the rear main seal (Rope seal) and it was ugly and the 2 cork blocks were missing from the rear of the oil pan gasketing. I replaced the seal and cork blocks and no change in the leak. There it sits still but I suspect I blew the cam plug out of the back of the block. Not that this is your problem but possibly an area to check....and I mean the oil gushes out....

 

If the engine had a rebuild a long time ago everything should be re tightened.
railguy

 

Oil sender on a 394 is down near the oil filter. That's my first guess. Next guess is see if the oil filter gasket is secure and the one from the old filter didn't get stuck to the filter mount.

 

Bingo!

Looks like my oil filter failed. Funny, since it's been run on this engine for all of 45 mins over the past 2 years or so. Was a b%tch to get off as well, needed to hammer a screwdriver through it to turn it off.

See the pics - there's a bulge in the gasket, plus the gasket was actually split

It was a Honeywell "Defense" filter, made in USA, go figure.

Haven't put new oil and filter on the car yet. Gotta get up early in the morning. Thanks for the help folks!

-Justin

 

Yup, had my share of oil filter problems too. Most common, is the gasket from the old filter stays on the engine base. When you install the new filter, there's basically two gaskets, and blows out. Also, installed a filter of the same number, but a different brand. Well guess what, it wasn't and gushed like your's. For any kind of fluid leak, usually best putting in some UV trace dye, and scanning with a UV light later.

 

Yep, that's exactly what happened.