Hello all. Thanks in advance for any advice. I have a 1977 f150 2wd with a 400m. Truck is pretty much stock. The issue im having is an oil leak that just so happens to leak onto the exhaust. The leak drips on the piece of exhaust that is part of the Y-pipe that is connecting each manifold. Its the piece that goes horizontally from each manifold. I can't completely tell where the leak is coming from. Pretty sure it's rear main. I understand replacing the rear main and oil pan involve removing the motor. Or at least lift it up enough to replace the seal. Well I thought "Now is a good time for a dual exhaust upgrade. That will at least let the oil leak to the ground." With the oil burning on the exhaust when I start driving I have a stream of smoke coming from underneath. Doesn't do much to make the truck look good. So i called a few places around town and they want anywhere from 400-600 bucks to install duals. That's not in my price range now. A few years back there were a couple shops in Tennessee that would do it for around 150 bucks. I'm up here in the cold state of Michigan now.

How should I go about resolving the smoke issue. I'm not too concerned about the oil leak. I just would rather it leak on gravel and not my hot exhaust.

 

If it is going to cost you that much for the exhaust. I'd spend it fixing the leak. Either way, you need to do something, if it gets worse you are going to be sitting in a CabBQ one day.

Besides, what good is a nice new exhaust going to be if the engine it's bolted to is shot because you forgot to top off the oil that one time?

 

Make sure it's not the oil pressure sender or rear intake manifold that's leaking. Could even be the valve cover.... I would cross those off the list before deciding on it being the rear main seal.

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Price sounds high , i got my 73 done for about $150.00 , both over the rear axle and out the sides. I never had the side fuel tank in the way only the rear one. Used straight though glass packs and 1 3/4 " pipe all the way. It was done in a small one man shop but he made real good smooth bends and welding. The bigger shops around here probably would have charged double that.

 

Oil leaks are annoying and especially if leaking on exhaust. If it's a pretty straight forward dual exhaust and no tricky bends, than $400-600 is a bit high. I'd keep shopping around. In the meantime you could get some heat wrap for headers and wrap around the exhaust in that section to cut down the heat. I won't take the burn out completely, but may take enough heat down to not catch fire on anything and cut down on the smoke.

 

I noticed the back corner of the valve cover seemed to be leaking. I had one in the shed. Changed it. Rtv is setting up. Ill try it out tonight when i head out. That would be awsome if this was the problem. Although it appears to be much worse.