I was playing with the timing today on my E-Body, LA 360 engine. I loosened the retaining cover and advanced it, tightened up the retainer and hopped inside.
Started the car and was listening to the idle when I felt something strange on my gas pedal foot. I was wearing flip flops and it felt like something was crawling on me. I looked down and saw motor oil running down my foot.
I quickly shut it down and got back under the hood where I saw oil all over the firewall, the valve covers, headers, and pouring down to the floor.
After some detective work, I realized that the tiny nylon tube that carries oil from the block to the pressure gauge under the dash was split right above the fitting. It was pissing oil everywhere. I must have bumped it with the wrench when I was adjusting the dizzy retainer. I guess the tube was brittle after years of service. So, be careful down there if you have the same set up.
I pulled the fitting and fed the tube through until the split was gone. It's functioning properly again, but I'm left with a hell of a mess. I wiped down a lot of it, but I need to pressure wash the engine bay.
There is a question in all of this...
There is oil on the bulkhead. Can I spray the bulkhead area lightly with degreaser and water? I'll leave it out in the sun all day to dry (it's 100 degrees here so it will dry). Will this do damage to the electrical connections at the bulkhead?
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